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She was running back, her hands filled with the lovely blossoms.’' 


/ 


PRINCESS POLLY 
AT SCHOOL 


BY 


AMY BROOKS 

n 


AUTHOR OF “THE PRINCESS POLLY SERIES” 
“DOROTHY DAINTY SERIES” 
"THE RANDY BOOKS,” “THE 
PRUE BOOKS,” Etc. 


WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE A UTHOR 


Nfm ?jnrk 

THE PLATT & PECK CO. 



COPYRIGHT, 1912, BY 
THE PLATT & PECK COMPANY 





CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. A Gay Welcome 9 

II. The Big Chest 30 

III. The Story 53 

IV. At School 73 

V. At Aunt Judith’s Cottage .... 93 

VI. Who Was It? 113 

VII. At Lena’s House 132 

VIII. Gyp 152 

IX. The Costume Party 171 

X, What the Old Clock Sang .... 194 

XI. Out In the Rain 212 

XII. A Little Traveler 234 







































ILLUSTRATIONS 


“She was running back, her hands filled 

with the lovely blossoms” . . Frontispiece 

FACING PAGE 

“Oh, who do you suppose it is ?” cried Polly . 48 ^ 

“They clasped hands, and gayly danced” . . 78 ^ 

“Daintily she tripped along” 136 ✓ 

“They’re coming now!” cried Polly, “hear 

THE SLEIGH-BELLS!” 178 ^ 

“The wind blew her cloak about her” . . 230 J 








PRINCESS POLLY AT 
SCHOOL 


CHAPTER I 


A GAY WELCOME 

SOFT breeze swayed the tall, old- 



fashioned garden flowers, causing 


them to nod and bend as if courtesying to 
the sun. 

The gorgeous chrysanthemums bowed 
their yellow heads, and one, larger and 
finer than its mates, nearly touched the 
gravel walk. 

A pair of bright eyes had been watching 
it, and a soft paw reached out from be- 
neath a low shrub to snatch at it. 

Again the breeze shook the blossom, 


9 


10 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

and this time, its swaying yellow head 
was too tempting, and out rushed a big 
cat, who sprang at the blossom, catching 
it, and breaking it from the stem. 

A lovely little girl ran laughing down 
the walk. 

Her curls were sunny, and her merry 
eyes were blue. 

“Oh, Mortimer darling!” she cried, 
picking up the big cat and gently caress- 
ing him, “did you want a flower so 
much? What a pity you haven’t a but- 
tonhole to put it in.” 

Lovingly he rubbed his handsome head 
against her shoulder. 

“Oh, perhaps you were picking it for 
me, Sir Mortimer. You know I always 
tell you, dear, that I ought always to call 
you Sir Mortimer, because that’s your 
truly name, but sometimes I think just 


A GAY WELCOME 


11 


Mortimer sounds sweeter. Sir Mortimer 
is grand.” 

“Hello !” cried a shrill little voice, and, 
turning, Polly Sherwood saw Gwen Har- 
court climbing over the wall. Her hat 
had slipped from her head, and lay at the 
base of the wall, and she laughed when 
she saw a big toad hop toward it. 

“Catch him!” she cried. “Catch him, 
Polly, and we’ll dress him up in doll’s 
clothes.” 

“I wouldn’t touch him,” said Polly. 

“Well, I must say I think your cat is 
handsomer, but when I get tired of dolls, 
I dress up anything that can move, toads, 
or kittens, or even chickens. Dolls are 
stupid things. They never budge.” 

“Toads don’t move unless you poke 
them,” thought Polly, but she did not say 
it. She wished Gwen to forget the ugly- 


12 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


looking toad, and let him remain 
undisturbed. 

Gwen wriggled about on the top of the 
wall, and slipped to the ground. She 
had already forgotten the toad, and she 
left her hat lying where it had fallen. 

“Now, then, Princess Polly, guess why 
I came?” she cried, as she ran toward her. 

“Oh, I couldn’t guess,” said Polly, with 
a laugh, “because no one ever knows why 
you do things.” 

Gwen was delighted. She liked to be 
told that she was unusual. 

She laughed and whirled about on the 
tips of her toes for a second, then shaking 
her curly head, she paused in front of 
Polly. 

“You know, as well as I do, that it isn’t 
long before school begins.” 

“Only three weeks,” said Polly. 


A GAY WELCOME 


13 


“Well, I’m to go to school, of course,” 
said Gwen, “but mamma said the finest 
thing to-day, and I wanted to tell some- 
body, so I ran over here to tell you. She 
says I’m so different from other children 
that I couldn’t bear going to school every 
day. She says I may stay at home when- 
ever I want to.” 

“Are you sure she said that?” Polly 
asked in surprise. 

She knew, as all the children did, that 
Gwen was not always quite truthful. 

“Of course I’m sure,” declared Gwen, 
“and I guess it’ll be pretty often I’ll want 
to. Why, where’s my hat? Oh, I re- 
member; I dropped it when I was climb- 
ing over the wall.” 

She ran to where it lay, picked it up, 
swung it from her arm by its elastic, and 
commenced to scale the wall. 


14 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


She turned, when she reached the top, to 
say: 

“I meant to stay and play with you this 
morning, but I just happened to remem- 
ber that we’re going out for a drive. 
The carriage was at the door when I ran 
over here.” 

She jumped down on the other side of 
the wall and disappeared among the 
trees. 

That next garden through which she 
had hurried to Polly was not her own. 
Indeed, her home was much farther down 
the avenue, but she had preferred to run 
through grounds belonging to her neigh- 
bors, and she always liked to climb over 
a wall. She thought it more exciting 
than to enter any place by the usual way. 

Polly watched her as she flitted across 
the lawn between trees and shrubs. 


A GAY WELCOME 


15 


When Gwen was no longer in sight, Polly 
turned, and again she spoke to her pet. 

“Did you ever see such a queer little 
girl, Sir Mortimer?” 

The cat arched his back, and rubbed 
against her. 

“Well, you can't speak, darling, but I 
just know you never did,” said Princess 
Polly. 

She turned toward the house, the big 
cat trotting along after her. 

Stately old Sherwood Hall stood out 
clearly against its background of fine 
trees, and Polly Sherwood, as she looked 
toward it, thought that no little girl ever 
had so charming a home. 

It was, in truth, the finest estate in all 
Avondale, and Polly, lovingly called 
“Princess Polly” by her friends, was the 
dear little daughter of the house. 


16 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

It would have been difficult to tell 
which of her playmates loved her most 
fondly, but Polly believed that Rose 
Atherton cared very tenderly for her, and 
surely she loved Rose. 

Whenever she passed the cottage where 
little Rose had lived with her Aunt 
Judith, she thought of the happy days 
when they had played together, and she 
often stopped to talk with Aunt Judith. 

“When Rose was with me, I thought it 
very hard to care for her, but now I miss 
her, and I wish that she was here,” Aunt 
Judith had said, when Polly, on her way 
down the avenue, had paused at the cot- 
tage gate. 

That had been a few days ago, and lit- 
tle Princess Polly, as she walked slowly 
up the driveway, thought of what Aunt 
Judith had said. 


A GAY WELCOME 


17 


“I want Rose to play with,” she mur- 
mured softly, “but I don’t wish she was 
living at that little old cottage. It would 
be mean to wish that. 

“Now that Aunt Rose has her in her 
fine house, Rose has everything that is 
nice, and I’m glad.” 

Then turning toward Sir Mortimer, 
who strolled along beside her, she asked 
his opinion. 

“We love to play with Rose, but we’d 
be selfish if we wished she was living 
down there with Aunt Judith,” she said. 

“Pur-r-r,” remarked Sir Mortimer, as 
if agreeing. 

“Rose is coming! Rose is coming!” 
cried Polly, one morning, as she ran 
through the hall, and out upon the drive- 
way. 


18 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“Is she cornin’ fer the visit ter-day?” 
questioned the maid as she passed. 

“Oh, not to-day,” said Polly, “but her 
letter came last night, and she’s to be here 
to-morrow, and I’m so glad.” 

“Well, so am I,” said the maid, “for 
ye’re sunlight, yerself, Miss Polly, and 
with Miss Rose here, the place will seem 
merry. I heard the cook say this morning 
that she’d make any nice little treats yer 
mamma might approve of, ter help cele- 
brate her coming.” 

“Oh, that’s fine, fine!” cried Polly; 
“how good she was to say that. It seems 
as if almost everyone was good.” 

“Bless ye, Miss Polly!” cried the maid, 
“it’s yer sunny little self that makes folks 
want ter be good ter yer.” 

“Why, you’re sunny,” declared Polly. 

“I’ve been more cheery than I ever was 


A GAY WELCOME 


19 


before since I lived under the roof with 
ye, ye little fairy!” said the maid, and 
she touched the soft, flaxen curls lovingly 
as she turned to mount the stairs. 

Mrs. Sherwood had written to ask if 
Rose might come for a few weeks to Sher- 
wood Hall, and a loving little note from 
Polly had been enclosed, urging Rose to 
coax for permission to make the visit. 

Promptly the reply had come, saying 
that as Rose was to have private tutors, 
and her studies were not to commence un- 
til later, she might surely visit Polly, and 
quaintly Great-aunt Rose thanked Mrs. 
Sherwood for the pleasure offered Rose. 

Now she was coming, coming! 

Polly thought the long day would never 
pass, and when the next morning came, 
she watched the clock hands, and won- 
dered why they moved so slowly. 


20 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

At last lunch was over, and Polly sat 
in the window, Sir Mortimer very happy 
upon the soft cushion beside her. 

“Think of it! Just think of it, dar- 
ling,” she cried suddenly, giving the big 
cat a warm hug; “in ’bout twenty minutes 
she’ll be here!” 

Sir Mortimer took the caress as a matter 
of course. He was very handsome, and 
he knew that everyone admired him. 
Thus he was used to being praised and 
petted. 

“Oh, I meant to place some of those 
lovely chrysanthemums in our room. 
Rose loves the pink ones. I’ll get them 
now! There’s just about time.” 

She flew out through the hall, and down 
the driveway, and soon was running back, 
her hands filled with the lovely blossoms 
that she had hastily picked. 


A GAY WELCOME 


21 


She rushed up the stairway, and thrust 
the long-stemmed flowers into a tall vase. 

“I can’t stop to give them any water, 
now,” she said, “because, — oh, I do be- 
lieve she’s here!” 

She ran to the hall and listened. 

“Oh, yes, it’s Rose!” she cried, and she 
hurried down the stairs, reaching the 
lower hall just as Marcus swung the door 
wide open for little Rose to enter. 

The two little friends flew into each 
other’s arms, and so excited were they, 
that they commenced to talk at the same 
moment. 

“What train did you come on?” 

“Did you expect me so soon?” 

“I’ve been watching the clock ever 
since I got your note.” 

“I’ve so much to tell you.” 

“So have I.” 


22 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


Then they stopped to look at each 
other. 

“Oh, you’re the same sweet 'Princess 
Polly’ I used to play with,” said Rose. 

“And you’re the same dear Rose,” Polly 
answered. 

Indeed, each was as surprised to see that 
the other had not changed as if they had 
been parted for a year instead of a month. 

Mrs. Sherwood now joined them, and 
greeted Rose warmly, and Rose felt as if 
she were being welcomed by relatives, 
rather than friends. 

Together they ran up to Polly’s pretty 
room, and Rose took off her hat and light 
cloak. 

She admired the beautiful flowers, and 
Polly laughed as she noticed that, in her 
haste to greet Rose, she had forgotten to 
fill the vase with water. 


A GAY WELCOME 


23 


“Now, Rose,” she cried, when she had 
replaced the flowers, “come down to the 
garden. I’ve ever so many things to 
show you.” 

With their arms about each other, they 
went down to the lawn, and Polly took 
Rose to the brook, and showed her a deep, 
clear pool where they could sail the pretty 
little boats that Uncle John had given 
them when they were his guests at his 
home, “The Cliffs,” down at the shore. 

There was a new summerhouse, in 
which it was delightful to sit, and tell 
stories, or read. 

“Now, come and see the place that Sir 
Mortimer has chosen for a nook to lie and 
dream in,” said Polly. 

She led the way to a clump of shrub- 
bery, that in the early spring was covered 
with soft, pink blossoms. 


24 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


Now there were no flowers upon it, but 
its heavy foliage cast a deep shadow. 

“He likes to go way in under these 
lowest branches, and lie on the grass ,’ 5 
said Polly. 

They peeped beneath the thick green 
leaves, and laughed. 

There lay Sir Mortimer blinking at 
them, as if he wondered why he had been 
disturbed. 

“I do believe he thinks that cozy place 
under the bushes is his little house , 55 said 
Rose. 

The sound of merry voices made them 
turn. 

Two boys and two little girls were run- 
ning up the driveway. 

“Oh, Rose, Rose ! 55 they cried, and then 
there was a merry chattering of laughing 
voices, all talking at the same time. 


A GAY WELCOME 


25 


“How long can you stay?” Lena asked, 
when there was a pause. 

“Oh, Lena Lindsey! I’m not to com- 
mence lessons until later and Polly’s 
mamma wishes me to stay for quite a 
visit,” said Rose. 

“Then you stay!” said Rob Lindsey, 
“and Lena and I will coax Polly and Mrs. 
Sherwood to let us have you some of the 
time.” 

“Oh, Rob,” cried his sister laughing, 
“we can’t get Rose away from Sherwood 
Hall.” 

“I didn’t mean just that,” Rob 
answered quickly, “but if we borrowed 
her for an afternoon once in a while it 
would be no end of fun.” 

“Oh, it’s nice to be wanted,” said Rose 
with a happy sigh. 

“We all want you,” said Leslie. 


26 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“Yes, all of us,” said her brother Harry, 
“and we’ve missed you since you went 
away from Avondale to live with your 
Aunt Rose.” 

All of the children had loved Rose, and 
Harry had always been a true friend. 

Rose Atherton, when she had lived at 
the tiny cottage with her Aunt Judith, 
had been neatly but very plainly dressed. 

Now, they noticed her dainty frock and 
shoes, and they were glad that she could 
have the pretty things that she had always 
wished for. 

Dear little Rose was not vain, but all 
of her playmates were tastefully dressed, 
and she had longed to look as well as they. 
She had never wished to outshine them. 

Her faded little gowns had often been 
shabby, their only good point had been 
that they were always neat. 


A GAY WELCOME 


27 


“It’s a long time since we have had Rose 
to play with,” said Polly; “let’s play 
‘blind-man’s-buff.’ ” 

“All right, Princess Polly,” cried Rob; 
“we always do as you say.” 

“Who’ll blind first?” Lena asked. 

“I will,” cried Rose, “and see who I’ll 
catch!” 

“Oh, Rose Atherton,” said Leslie, “you 
needn’t blind first.” 

“Oh, I want to!” said Rose; “it’ll be 
fun!” 

So Polly tied a handkerchief over 
Rose’s eyes, knotting it at the back of her 
curly head. 

Then the fun began. 

They were on the open lawn, and now, 
Rose, her arms outstretched, was moving 
directly toward the group. 

Softly they tiptoed past her, and Rob 


28 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


coming up behind her, tweaked one of her 
brown curls. 

“Oh, I think that was Rob,” she cried, 
turning quickly about, but Rob had 
dropped to the grass and had crept away. 

Again she extended her arms, and for 
a moment she paused. Was she listen- 
ing? 

Then once more she moved forward, 
reaching out to snatch at any playmate 
who might chance to be near. 

And now Harry Grafton, laughing 
softly, touched the tip of her nose with a 
long flower stem. 

Swiftly she turned and caught him 
before he could escape. 

“You are Harry!” she cried. 

“How do you know?” Lena asked. 

Snatching off the handkerchief, Rose 
laughed merrily, as she saw that it was 


A GAY WELCOME 


29 


Harry’s wrist that she had caught and 
still held. 

“How did you guess’?” asked Harry. 

“Because,” said Rose, “your hair is 
curly, and right over your forehead 
there’s a piece that crinkles more than all 
the rest. I felt for that, and when my 
fingers touched it, I knew that it was 
you.” 

“I was fairly caught,” said Harry. 


CHAPTER II 

THE BIG CHEST 

I T was a sunny day on which Rose ar- 
rived at Sherwood Hall, and several 
sunny days followed, in which the merry 
platmates united with Polly in making 
Rose very glad to be with them. 

They had played “tag” and “hide-and- 
seek,” “blind-man’s-buff,” and a dozen 
other games; they had sailed the tiny 
boats on the little brook, and Rose, who 
had few playmates at her home with Aunt 
Rose, felt that she never before had been 
so happy. 

One morning when they awoke, the 
rain was pattering on the roof, and the 
30 


THE BIG CHEST 


31 


wind was blowing the rose vines against 
the latticed window. 

Polly turned to know if Rose were 
asleep, and laughed when two bright 
brown eyes looked up at her. 

“Oh, you’re awake!” cried Polly. 

“Yes, and I’m glad you are, for while 
I thought you were asleep, I listened to 
the rain. Polly, it almost plays a tune 
when it plashes against the glass.” 

For a moment they listened. 

“Why, it isn’t really a tune,” said 
Polly, “but it does sound pretty.” 

“And see the vine with the lovely rose, 
and buds on the end of it,” cried Rose. 
“When it strikes the window, it looks as 
if it wanted to be let in.” 

“And it shall come in!” cried Polly, 
springing out upon the rug and rushing to 
the window. 


32 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

She swung the lattice wide open, and 
tried to break the sturdy stem. 

"It’s too tough to break, but there are 
some little scissors in this tray, 55 she said. 

Going to the dresser she found the scis- 
sors, and soon held the beautiful rose in 
her hand. 

She closed the window, and ran to give 
the lovely blossom to Rose. 

‘There it is!” she cried, “and the rain 
drops on it look like dew.” 

Rose laid it against her cheek, and 
Polly clapped her hands. 

“Two roses!” she cried; “the pink one 
and you, and you are some pink. I mean 
your cheeks are.” 

And then the two little friends tried to 
see which should be dressed first. 

“My shoes are tied!” cried Polly. 

“My hair ribbon is tied!” said Rose. 


THE BIG CHEST 


33 


How they laughed as they tried to 
hurry just a bit more, each endeavoring to 
get ready, if with but a moment’s differ- 
ence, before the other. 

“Oh, you’re dressed first!” cried Polly 
a moment later, “and what made me slow 
is that there’s just one button on the back 
of this dress that I almost can’t reach. 
You’ll have to help me, Rose.” 

“All right!” said Rose, and when she 
had thrust the button into the buttonhole, 
they ran out into the hall, laughing as 
they went, and Rose followed Polly down 
the stairway. 

After breakfast was over the question 
arose as to how they should amuse them- 
selves on such a stormy day. 

“It’s warm out,” said Rose, peeping 
through the screen door, “but it’s wet as 
wet can be.” 


34 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“Oh, I know what would be fun!” cried 
Polly, “and I’ll ask mamma if we can do 
it.” 

“A game to play?” asked Rose. 

“Finer than a game,” declared Polly, 
“and I’ll find mamma this minute, and 
ask her if she is willing to let us do the 
thing Pve been wild for weeks to do.” 

Polly ran out into the hall, back through 
the living room, and from there into the 
conservatory. 

“Oh, here you are, mamma,” she cried. 
“Pve been looking for you. It’s raining 
so we can’t go out, and will you let us go 
up to the garret storeroom where the 
trunks and chests are, and open them and 
see all of Grandma Sherwood’s fine old 
things?” 

Mrs. Sherwood fastened a slender blos- 
soming vine that she had been training, 


THE BIG CHEST 


35 


and turned to look at the little eager face. 

“Do you think that Rose would enjoy 
that?” she asked. 

“Oh, yes,” said Polly, “and there’s some 
dresses that belonged to your great aunt, 
oh, what was her name, mamma?” 

“I think you mean Great-great-aunt 
Clementine,” said Mrs. Sherwood, “and 
certainly, Polly, if you are quite sure that 
it would please Rose to see them, you may 
spend a little time up there.” 

“And may we ‘try on’ some of the 
things?” coaxed Polly. “We’ll be very 
careful of them.” 

“You may ‘try on’ any of the bonnets, 
the mantles, or the gowns, Polly,” Mrs. 
Sherwood said, “but lay aside the smaller 
parcels that are wrapped in paper. 
Those are rare old laces, and I should not 
like to have those played with.” 


36 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“Oh, we’ll not touch those,” said Polly; 
“we’d only care for the pretty colored 
things.” 

She ran back to the living room, her 
eyes bright as stars. 

“Come!” she cried. “We’ll go up to 
the garret storeroom. The truly store- 
room is near my chamber, but the other one 
is way up under the roof, and there’s 
trunks full of lovely old silk gowns, and 
satin mantles, and bonnets, and mamma 
says we may dress up in them!” 

Rose waited for no urging. 

“Oh, what fun!” she cried. “There 
isn’t anything I’d like as well to do. Are 
there many in the trunk?” 

Princess Polly grasped her hand, and 
together they ran up the stairs. 

“ c frunk!” she cried. “Why, there’s 
every so many trunks, and every one has 


THE BIG CHEST 


37 


fine tilings in it, and there’s a big chest I 
haven’t ever looked into. Mamma hasn’t 
seen what’s in it yet. She’s been intend- 
ing to ever since we came here to live. 

“You know this house belonged to 
Grandpa Sherwood, and now it belongs 
to papa, and the old costumes were 
Grandma Sherwood’s when she was a girl, 
and some of them Great-great-aunt Clem- 
entine wore.” 

They reached the spacious room that 
for years had stood deserted. 

Old Grandfather Sherwood had had 
neither time nor inclination to search 
among its long-forgotten treasures. 

Polly’s mamma had been but a short 
time at Sherwood Hall, and she had been 
closely occupied with beautifying the 
grand old house, while Polly’s papa had 
given all his spare time to directing im- 


38 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


provements that were being made in the 
picturesque grounds. Mrs. Sherwood 
had visited the garret storeroom but once, 
but the place looked so interesting that 
she decided, at the first opportunity, to 
examine all of the old furnishings, ancient 
and debonair, and more carefully search 
the trunks that she saw, in her brief stay, 
held a wealth of quaint garments. 

Now, Polly tightly clasping Rose’s 
hand, stared in amazement at the beau- 
tiful things that seemed both new and 
strange. 

“Oh, what a lovely garret!” cried Rose. 
“See the tiny mirror over there ! Whose 
was that?” 

“I don’t know, but I think it was 
Grandma Sherwood’s,” said Polly; “and 
see this old chair,” she continued. “Isn’t 
it handsome?” 


THE BIG CHEST 


39 


“Oh, it’s a beauty !” said Rose, “and I 
never knew, when I lived with Aunt 
Judith, and used to play with you, that 
you had such a lovely garret. See the 
beautiful window! See all the trunks!” 

“Yes, and we can open every one of 
them. Which would you peep into 
first?” Polly asked. 

“That one,” said Rose. “It’s so dif- 
ferent from the others, with its great big 
lock and hinges.” 

“All right,” cried Polly, and kneeling 
before it, she tried to turn the key. It 
was rusty, and for a moment it seemed im- 
possible to move it. 

Polly grasped it firmly, and gave it a 
vigorous twist, and just as she was about 
to give up, it turned, and the cover flew 
up just a bit. 

“Oh, how full it is!” she cried, and 


40 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

springing to her feet, she lifted the cover. 

A number of paper parcels lay in view, 
and believing them to be the lace that her 
mamma had spoken of, Polly placed them 
very carefully on the floor beyond the 
trunk, and turned to see what lay beneath. 

A heavy cotton, yellow with age, was 
spread over the contents. 

Polly lifted it. 

“Oh, oh-oo!” they cried, for there lay 
a mass of pale green satin, with flowers 
of soft yellow, as fresh, as beautiful, as 
when it had first been woven. 

“Oh, take it out!” cried Rose. “It 
looks like the color of the green waves 
down at the shore.” 

They lifted it from the trunk, and un- 
folded it. Quaint ornaments fastened 
the waist, a kerchief draped the low neck, 
and the sleeves, evidently a trifle shorter 


THE BIG CHEST 


41 


than elbow length, were edged with frills 
that matched the dainty kerchief. 

“Oh, Polly, you’ll look fine in that!” 
said Rose. 

“What’s this?” cried Polly, tugging at 
a huge parcel that appeared to be tied up 
in striped cotton. 

“It can’t be lace,” ventured Rose, “be- 
cause your mamma said the little parcels 
were lace, and that’s a big one.” 

“Oh, it can’t be lace,” said Polly, “so 
we’ll open it.” 

A strong tape was tied around it, and 
the two children took turns trying to pick 
out the hard knot with which it was tied. 

At last it yielded, and the cotton cover- 
ing spread just enough to show a glimpse 
of gayly flowered silk. 

“Lovely!” cried Polly. “It looks like a 
flower garden!” 


42 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


Together they shook out the folds of 
the skirt. 

“See the little puffed sleeves!” cried 
Polly. “You’ll look nice in that one.” 

“Let’s try them on,” said Rose. 

“We will,” agreed Polly, “but first let’s 
open those bonnet boxes. Mamma says 
they are bonnet boxes, and if they are, 
we’d like to see what’s in them.” 

“P’raps we could find one to match each 
of these dresses,” said Rose. 

“You undo that one, while I untie this,” 
said Polly. 

It was easy to untie the strings. 

“Oh, look at this one!” cried Rose. 
“See the funny feathers on it!” 

“And look at this one with all the 
flowers on it ! That would look fine with 
your dress,” said Polly. “Now we’ll open 
this box, and see what’s in it.” 


THE BIG CHEST 


43 


The two children bent over the box of 
gayly flowered paper, and together they 
managed to untie the obstinate knot. 

With shouts of laughter they greeted 
the bonnet that lay in view. 

It was of white straw, and a really huge 
affair, with wide yellow strings, a wealth 
of yellow roses with buds and foliage. 

“You’ll have to put that one on with 
the green dress with yellow flowers on it,” 
said Rose, and then the fun began. 

The garret was neatly papered and the 
floor scrupulously clean. 

Although an unused room, the maid 
had cared for it as regularly as if it were 
a guest chamber. 

Thus, while apart from the rest of the 
house, the garret storeroom was daintily 
kept, and the silken gowns could trail 
across its floor unharmed. 


44 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“I guess we’d better put these dresses 
on over our own frocks,” said Polly. 

“Oh, yes,” Rose agreed. “They won’t 
look so much too big for us, if we put them 
on over our own clothes.” 

It was the work of but a few moments 
for Polly to throw the green satin gown 
over her shoulders, and then thrust her 
arms through the sleeves. 

“Why, how do these funny things on 
the waist button?” said Polly. 

“Oh, I see!” she cried a moment later. 
“Those are only to look pretty. They 
don’t button at all. There’s hooks under 
the edge. Why, Great-great-aunt Clem- 
entine must have had a tiny waist, for 
while her skirt is ever so much too long 
for me, her waist must have been as little 
as mine. I can’t hook these hooks.” 

“Let me help,” said Rose, “and you 


THE BIG CHEST 


45 


hold your breath, while I try to fasten 
it” 

So Polly did hold her breath, and after 
much tugging, the waist was fastened. 

“Now put on this big bonnet,” said 
Rose. “Oh, isn’t it bigT’ 

“I’m going to stand on that chest, so I 
can look in that little mirror,” said Polly. 

“And while you’re looking, I’ll put on 
this lovely gown. I hope it’s looser than 
yours was,” said Rose. 

“I hope it is,” said Polly, “for this one 
is all stiff with big whalebones, and it’s so 
tight I can just barely breathe. I hope 
Great-great-aunt Clementine didn’t feel 
as I do when she wore it. I’m almost 
choking. I’ll peep into the mirror just to 
see how I look, and then I’ll take it off. 
P’raps there are some other gowns that 
are looser.” 


46 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“You look like a truly princess in that,” 
Rose said, “but a looser one would feel 
better.” 

Quickly she slipped into the flowered 
gown, tied the bonnet under her chin, and 
then hurried to where Polly was standing 
on the chest. 

“Let me see me /” she cried. 

“You look fine,” said Polly; “come up 
here, and we’ll look in together.” 

Then two lovely little faces peeped into 
the glass and laughed at the reflection 
there. 

Then they sprang from the chest, 
daintily holding their long skirts aside. 

“Oh, dear!” cried Polly, “isn’t this skirt 
long?” 

Then they opened the chest upon which 
they had been standing. It proved to 
have only gowns and coats of cloth care- 


THE BIG CHEST 


47 


fully packed in it, and they returned to 
the trunk that had first attracted them. 

There were mantles of satin and silk, 
and frocks of flowered silk muslin, but no 
garment so rich as the two gowns that 
they had first found. 

“These aren’t so fine as those we have 
on,” said Polly. 

“We might open another one,” said 
Rose, but just at that moment Polly’s 
slender fingers touched a small package 
that, when lifted out, proved to be a red 
leather case. 

“Why, how does it open?” she cried. 
“I’m wild to know what’s in it.” 

“Is that little button a clasp?” Rose 
asked. “Press it, Polly, and see.” 

“I did, but it won’t open.” 

She pressed harder upon the little 
spring, and the case flew open. 


48 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“Why, it’s a picture, a lovely little 
picture ! Oh, who do you suppose it is ?” 
cried Polly, in great excitement. 

“Oh, look!” said Rose. “The beautiful 
lady is wearing the very dress that you 
have on!” 

“Why, she is!” said Polly, “and see her 
lovely eyes, and her pink cheeks, and her 
lips, how red they are! Isn’t she dear?” 

“She’s beautiful!” said Rose, “and the 
gold frame makes the colors in the picture 
look fine.” 

“Let’s run down to mamma, and see if 
she knows who the fine lady is.” 

“Oh, yes, come!” cried Rose; “I’m wild 
to know.” 

Polly placed the picture in the leather 
case, and then, together they ran down to 
the living room. 

“Sure, Miss Polly, you an’ Miss Rose 



“Oh, who do you suppose it is?’’ cried Polly 




THE BIG CHEST 49 

make a picture with all them fine things 
on. I think I never saw ye look so 
sweet,” said the maid, who was dusting, 
but paused to admire the two little 
friends. 

“We’ve been up in the garret, and we 
found these gowns in a trunk,” said 
Polly, “but we found something else, and 
I want to show it to mamma.” 

“And I’m quite ready to see it,” said 
Mrs. Sherwood, with a soft laugh. 

She had just come in from the conserva- 
tory, and now she looked first at one 
quaintly dressed little figure, and then 
the other. 

“Why, you are two fine little ladies,” 
she said. “Have you come to call upon 
me?’ 

“Oh, yes,” said Polly, eagerly; “we 
came to let you see our gowns and bon- 


50 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


nets, but please look at this lovely picture, 
and tell us who the beautiful lady is / 5 

“A picture, did you say ? 55 Mrs. Sher- 
wood asked, taking the leather case that 
Polly offered her. 

She opened the case, and, with a little 
cry, stared fixedly at the picture, that 
seemed to return her gaze. 

“Clementine Sherwood ! Great-great- 
aunt Clementine ! 55 she whispered after a 
moment. 

“Oh, mamma, how did you know who 
she was 6 ? 55 

For a moment Mrs. Sherwood studied 
the picture, then turning it over, she 
looked at a few lines written on the back. 

Clementine, 

youngest daughter 
of 

Arthur Stanton Sherwood. 

Nathan Van Deel, pinx’t. 


THE BIG CHEST 


51 


“See, Polly,” Mrs. Sherwood said; 
“here is her name, and also, the name of 
the artist who painted it.” 

Polly and Rose looked closely at the 
signature. 

“His first name is Nathan, and his 
middle name is Van Deel; his last name is 
P-i-n-x-t,” said Polly. “My, but that’s a 
funny name!” 

Then Mrs. Sherwood laughed. 

“Oh, Polly dear, that’s not his name. 
His name was Nathan Van Deel, and 
pinx’t is a short way of writing the Latin 
word, pinxit, which means that he painted 
it. It is a wonderful bit of painting on 
ivory. I am so glad you found it.” 

“Why are you glad?” Polly asked. “Is 
it because it is so lovely?” 

“Well, surely she is lovely, but there 
is another reason. The miniature be- 


52 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

longed in the family, but had not been 
seen for a long time, and your father be- 
lieved that it had been stolen. There is 
quite a story connected with it, and after 
lunch, I will tell the story to you and 
Rose.” 


CHAPTER III 

THE STORY 

A FTER lunch, Polly and Rose sat 
waiting for the promised story. 
Some fine new plants for the conserva- 
tory had arrived, and Mrs. Sherwood was 
busy giving directions as to where they 
should be placed. 

Outside the rain pattered, and now the 
wind was rising. The trees and shrubs 
were drenched. Surely, no one would 
care to venture out on such a stormy day. 

It had been warm in the early morning, 
and had seemed like a summer shower. 

Now the wind blew from the east, and 
doors and windows were closed, and a 
53 


54 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

wood fire blazed and crackled in the great 
fireplace. 

“This,” said Polly, “is mamma’s fa- 
vorite chair, and I’ll draw it nearer the 
fire. She shall sit there to tell the story, 
and we’ll sit on these low stools to listen.” 

Mrs. Sherwood soon joined them, and 
she smiled when she saw her chair, and 
her little audience waiting for her. 

“The story of Great-great-aunt Clem- 
entine might almost be called ‘The Un- 
happy Princess,’ ” she began, “for while 
she was not a princess, she looked, they 
say, like a truly royal personage. 

“She was very bright, light-hearted, and 
gay, and her father gave her everything 
that wealth could purchase. 

“One winter, when Avondale had been 
gayer than usual, a birthday party was 
given for Clementine. A beautiful 


THE STORY 


55 


gown, the one that you have on, Polly, 
was made for her to wear on her eight- 
eenth birthday, and enough guests were 
invited to fill Sherwood Hall. They 
were to remain for a house party, and it 
is said that Clementine had never seemed 
so gay. 

“Among her friends was young Nathan 
Van Deel, an artist, talented but with 
his fortune yet to make. Clementine’s 
father told her not to invite him, giving as 
his only reason that he was not wealthy. 

“ 'Riches aren’t everything,’ Clemen- 
tine had said angrily; my party would 
not be complete if any friend were left 
out.’ 

“ C I command you to leave him off of 
your invited list,’ was the stern reply. 

“The young girl did not dare to answer, 
but she was determined. 


56 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“Her father had paid generously for 
the miniature that the artist had painted, 
but while he valued the portrait, he did 
not care for the young man’s friendship. 
The miniature had represented the lovely 
Clementine in a garden, a white muslin 
gown, and a hat wreathed in pink roses 
making her charm even greater.” 

“But, mamma, she has on this green 
satin,” Polly said, as Mrs. Sherwood 
paused. 

“I know,” Mrs. Sherwood said, “and 
this is another picture. 

“The night of the party came, and 
throngs of happy young people arrived to 
greet Clementine. Among them, the mer- 
riest of all, was Nathan Van Deel, the 
handsome young artist. 

“Clementine’s father was furious. 

“There is much of the story that you 


THE STORY 


57 

two little girls would not understand, 
but this I will tell you. 

“Some tableaux were arranged for one 
of the last evenings that the guests were 
to remain. 

“One, called ‘An Artist’s Studio,’ 
angered old Arthur Sherwood, because 
Nathan posed as the artist, and Clemen- 
tine as his model. 

“At the end of the entertainment, he 
scolded her soundly for taking part in a 
tableau with Nathan, and it happened 
that Nathan overheard what he said. 

“The next bit of the story reads like 
your fairy tales, where the bold prince 
runs away with the princess, for that is 
just what Nathan did. 

“He knew that Clementine cared for 
him, and when he found her crying, he 
led her out into the garden, where his big 


58 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


gray horse stood saddled and bridled. 

“She was hurt and angry with her 
proud, old father, who had been very 
stern, and almost before she knew it, she 
was swung up onto the saddle in front of 
Nathan, and away to the parsonage they 
rode, where, in a few moments they were 
married. 

“Old Arthur Sherwood could not for- 
give his favorite daughter, or her artist 
husband. 

“He did not often see ner, and left the 
greater part of his wealth and Sherwood 
Hall to his son. 

“I had seen the picture of Clementine 
in the white gown, and I knew the beau- 
tiful face at once when I looked at this 
miniature. 

“Nathan painted her in the green satin 
gown, doubtless because she wore that on 


THE STORY 


59 


the evening that she became his bride. I 
can not imagine how the picture and 
gown came to be in this house. She never 
lived here after her marriage.” 

“I think it’s a sad story,” said Polly. 
“Don’t you, Rose 4 ?” 

“I think some of it is sad, but was she 
unhappy with the artist 4 ?” little Rose 
asked, “or was he good to her 4 ?” 

“That is the one pleasant part of the 
story,” said Mrs. Sherwood. “She was 
very happy, they say; he was always 
loving and kind, and he became famous 
as a portrait painter, so that they were 
prospered.” 

“Oh, I’m glad!” cried Polly. 

“So am I,” said Rose, “and just as 
you’ve told that the story ended nicely, 
the sun is coming out.” 

“It does end just like the fairy tales,” 


60 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


said Polly, “for don’t you know they 
always say, ‘And they lived happy ever 
after’?’ 

“That is a cheerful way to look at it,” 
Mrs. Sherwood said, “and surely the smil- 
ing face of the miniature seems to prove 
that the fair lady was very happy.” 

“I shall not put it back in its hiding 
place in the old trunk,” she continued, 
“but, instead, I will hang it here where 
the light will touch it lovingly. She 
shall be in the living room of Sherwood 
Hall that was once her home, and we can 
enjoy her beauty.” 

As she spoke, Mrs. Sherwood took a 
small picture from a brass hook that was 
within easy reach, and slipping the gilt 
ring in the top of the miniature frame 
over it, stepped back to note the effect. 

“It is very lovely in that light,” she 


TEE STORY 


61 


said. “It shall hang there and beautify 
the room.” 

As they stood looking at the exquisite 
little miniature in its tiny gold frame, a 
ray of sunlight touched it. 

The clouds had departed, and the sun- 
beam, coming in at the window, had given 
the lovely Clementine a welcome to her 
old home, Sherwood Hall. 

They were still admiring the picture 
when quick steps upon the piazza told 
that someone had arrived. 

They heard the door opened by the 
maid, and then, — 

“Is Polly at home?” 

“Yes, Miss Polly’s at home. Will you 
come in?” 

“No, I won t. I want her to come out, 
and bring her friend with her. You tell 
her so.” 


62 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


Only one person in the neighborhood 
spoke as rudely as that ! 

Polly looked at Rose. 

“It’s Gwen Harcourt!” she said, and 
Rose knew that Polly was not pleased 
that she had come. 

The maid appeared in the doorway. 

“Miss Polly, the Harcourt child wants 
ter see yer, an’ I asked her ter come in, 
but she won’t come.” 

“Oh, dear,” said Polly. “Well, I 
wanted to go out to play with you, Rose, 
and Gwen is, — well, rather rough in the 
house, so I guess we’d better go out.” 

“Try to be patient with her, dear,” Mrs. 
Sherwood said, as the two little girls went 
out to greet Gwen Harcourt. 

“I will,” Polly answered, and Rose 
turned to say: 

“I’ll help her.” 


THE STORY 


63 


They found Gwen waiting for them on 
the piazza. 

cc Isn’t she sweet?” thought Rose, but in 
less than ten minutes she had changed her 
mind. 

It was true that Gwen looked very 
pretty as she stood waiting for them. 

Her dainty white frock was surely be- 
coming, and she wore a soft pink sash, a 
ribbon of the same color tying her bright 
curling hair. 

She smiled as they came toward her. 
Truly, she looked sweet. 

Her greeting, however, was far from 
charming. 

"Hello !” she said. "Is that your friend 
that’s come for a visit?” 

"Oh, Gwen!” cried Polly. "This is 
Rose Atherton, and she’s dear to play 
with.” 


64 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“Hm,” remarked Gwen, at the same 
time staring at Rose as if she were merely 
a doll, or a wax figure exhibited to be 
looked at. 

Then, after a pause she said: 

“I came over to see what she looked 
like.” 

“And now you do see, will you play 
with us?” Rose asked. 

“I don’t know,” Gwen replied; “I was 
trying to make a hand-organ, when I just 
happened to think to run over here. 

“I had an old firkin that our cook let me 
take, and I was trying to fasten a handle 
onto it. I took the handle of the clothes 
wringer, the maid had broken it off, and I 
thought if I could fasten it to the firkin, 
I could grind it like a hand-organ.” 

“And what would make it play tunes?” 
questioned Polly. 


TEE STORY 


65 


“I hadn’t got to that part of it,” snapped 
Gwen; “now let’s play something, or I’ll 
go home.” 

Polly longed to say, “Well, go right 
along,” but instead, she said: 

“What shall we play 4 ?” 

“Let’s play ‘I spy.’ I know a new way 
to play it. The old way isn’t any fun. I 
made the new way myself. Come !” cried 
Gwen. 

They followed her as she ran down the 
driveway. 

At the foot of a small tree she paused. 

“The new way, the way I play ‘I spy/ 
is to spy something quick, and then, go 
right where it is, and look at it!” she said. 

“Now, it’s my turn first,” she continued, 
“and I 'spied’ a bird’s nest in this tree 
when I was coming over here. Now I’m 
going right up to look at it!” 


66 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


The branches were low, and quite near 
together, and like a cat, she sprang up into 
the nearest ones, and began to climb 
higher and higher. 

She could climb as well as a boy, and 
she was proud to show how quickly she 
could reach the top. 

The embroidery on the skirt of her frock 
caught on a twig, and she roughly 
twitched it free. 

“Oh, you’ve torn your frock!” cried 
Polly. 

“Never mind,” said Gwen, with a 
laugh. “I’ve reached the nest!” 

Then, like a little monkey, she slipped 
from one limb to another, until, at last, 
she stood upon the gravel walk beside 
them. 

“Now, you spy something,” she said, 
pointing at Rose, “and you climb to see it. 


THE STORY 


67 


It’s ‘no fairs’ spying things that you can 
look at real easy.” 

“Why, I don’t see anything that isn’t 
easy to reach,” said Rose. 

“Pooh!” cried Gwen. “You don’t look 
for things. See the big gilt rooster on the 
weathervane up on the stable? Well, 
climb up there, and look him in the face !” 

“Why, Rose can’t go up there!” said 
Polly. 

“Can’t she climb?” queried Gwen, with 
a giggle, “or is she ’fraid she’ll tear her 
clothes?” 

’’Tisn’t either thing,” said Rose, “for I 
can climb, and almost never tear my 
frocks.” 

“Well, I dare you to touch that big old 
gilt rooster!” cried Gwen. 

“I’ll not let Rose climb up there,” said 
Polly, “and I wouldn’t want you to, 


68 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


either. You might get a fall and be 
hurt. We can play something that 
doesn’t make us climb.” 

“Oh, of course,” Gwen agreed, “we 
could sit in the house and make patch- 
work. We couldn't get hurt doing that! 
It wouldn’t be much fun, though.” 

“Come, Gwen,” said Polly, “we can 
play something we’ll all like.” 

She was not glad that Gwen had come, 
but she was always a little peace-maker, 
and she had seen Gwen’s eyes snap. 

“Every time I come over here we do 
something quiet” she complained. 

Gwen thought anything quiet that did 
not risk life, and limb. 

Before Polly could think of any new 
game that might please her, Inez Varney 
stopped at the entrance to the garden. 

“Oh, Gwen!” she cried, “I’ve been 


THE STORY 


69 


hunting everywhere for you. I haven’t 
anyone to play with. Come over to my 
house, will you?” 

Without a word, or even a glance to- 
ward Princess Polly, or Rose, Gwen ran 
down the driveway and up the avenue 
with Inez. 

They could not hear all that she said, 
but just a few words came back on the 
breeze. 

“And they won’t play anything that’s 
any fun, so p’raps they’ll go in, now, and 
make patch-work.” 

They both laughed as they ran along. 

Polly’s cheek flushed, and Rose’s brown 
eyes looked darker. 

“We’re not slow, or stupid,” said Polly, 
to which Rose replied : 

“No, and we’re not rude.” 

“Well, she went off with Inez, and that’s 


70 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


all right. Now, come and swing in the 
hammock, and tell me what I’m just wild 
to know,” said Polly. 

‘Til tell you anything,” Rose said, as 
they ran up to the piazza. 

They sprang into the hammock, and set 
it swinging gayly. 

“Now, tell me,” said Polly, “how are 
you going to have your lessons?” 

“Why, PH have them at home,” Rose 
said, in surprise. “Don’t you know I told 
you that in a little letter I wrote to you?” 

“Oh, I know that,” said Polly, “but 
what I mean is, when will you have them. 
We go to school twice a day, and Rose, are 
you going to have those teachers with you 
all day?” 

Rose laughed and shook her head. 

“Oh, no, no!” she cried. “They’re to be 
at the house every forenoon, and the music 


TEE STORY 


71 


teacher will only come once a week.” 

Polly looked relieved. 

“That’s only half as bad as I thought it 
was,” she said, “for I thought there would- 
n’t be a single minute when you could 
play, because those horrid teachers would 
be with you all day, making you study.” 

For a few moments neither spoke, and 
the gay colored hammock swung higher 
than before, then, letting it swing slower, 
Polly looked into Rose’s brown eyes. 

“Are you glad you’re to have your teach- 
ers at your house?” she asked. 

“I don’t think I’ll like it at all” Rose 
replied. 

“It’s so quiet at home, I’d love to go to 
school with the other children,” she con- 
tinued, “for then I’d have someone to play 
with.” 

“Why don’t you tell your Aunt Rose, 


72 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

and p’raps she’ll let you,” Polly ventured, 
hoping to comfort her. 

“Oh, you don’t know Aunt Rose,” was 
the quick reply; “I mean you don’t know 
her same’s I do, or you wouldn’t say that.” 

“Why wouldn’t I?” Polly asked. 

“Oh, because you wouldn’t,” said Rose. 
“Why Aunt Rose isn’t ever angry, and I 
haven’t heard her say one single cross word 
since she took me home to live with her, 
but Princess Polly, she doesn’t ever change 
her mind ! When I asked her to let me go 
to school with the other children, she 
looked at me a minute, and then she said : 

“ 1 think it much finer for you, as my lit- 
tle niece, to have private tutors, and I 
have already engaged them. Your les- 
sons will begin in a few weeks,’ and tho’ 
she smiled, you’d just know that it 
wouldn’t be any use to fuss.” 


CHAPTER IV 

AT SCHOOL 

O NE morning Polly and Rose ran out 
into the garden, singing as they 
went a little song that Uncle John had 
taught them during their stay at his home, 
“The Cliffs.” 

“Leslie and Lena are coming over to 
play with us this morning,” said Polly, 
“and I’ll ask Leslie to tell us how to play 
a new game that she has learned. 

“She was visiting her cousin when I was 
with you at your Uncle John’s, at the 
shore, and her cousin and all her little 
friends were playing it.” 

73 


74 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“What kind of a game is it?” Rose 
asked. 

She had always liked Leslie Grafton, 
and she thought if Leslie liked the new 
game, it must be very nice. 

“Oh, there’s verses to sing,” Polly said, 
“and the girls clasp hands, and dance 
around in a ring, then one of them stands 
in the middle — Oh ; here they come, and 
I’ll ask her now!” 

“Hello, Hello! We’ve come to stay 
all the morning with you!” cried Lena 
and Leslie, as if with one voice. 

“And we’ve ever so much to tell.” 

“It’s news, too!” added Lena Lindsey, 
“and we can’t wait to tell it!” 

“Come to the summerhouse,” said 
Polly; “it’s the finest place to hear it,” and 
they followed her, with flying feet, laugh- 
ing gaily as they ran, and then seated 


AT SCHOOL 


75 


themselves closely together in the arbor. 

“Now,” said Polly, “what’s the news’?” 

“First of all, just hold your breath, be- 
cause, — school’s to commence next Mon- 
day!” Lena said. 

“Next Monday!” cried Polly. “Why 
this is Saturday, and I thought we were to 
have another week for play.” 

“So did we!” said Lena. 

“And we’ve planned the finest things 
for next week,” said Leslie, “and here’s 
school to commence the first thing Monday 
morning. It isn’t that I don’t like school. 
I love to go; it’s that we meant to have 
some fine times while we still had every 
day in the week. Now it will be only 
Saturdays.” 

“Just Saturdays,” said Polly, “and 
Rose, you’ll have to go to school with me. 
I did think one more week of your visit 


76 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


would be free for play. Who says it’s 
Monday?” 

“Oh, the committee, and it was in this 
morning’s paper, T'he Avondale News” 
said Lena, “and when Rob read it he put 
the paper down and he said : 

“‘School Monday morning! I wish 
those committee men had to go,’ and papa 
said, ‘Robert!’ but he laughed, and Rob 
can’t stay mad more than a minute, and he 
laughed with him.” 

“And Mrs. Harcourt called on mamma, 
and she said she hoped that the teachers 
would not do anything that would curb 
Gwen’s imagination,” said Leslie. 

“Harry and I were in the hall when she 
said that, and Harry whispered to me, and 
he said: 

“ ‘She needn’t worry. Nothing but a 
muzzle would stop the big yarns she tells.’ 


AT SCHOOL 


77 


“I know he was naughty, but I couldn’t 
help laughing.” 

“I know I’d have laughed if I’d heard 
him say that,” said Rose. 

“Can’t you just see Gwen, if someone 
put a muzzle on her“?” said Leslie. 
“Wouldn’t she tear rounds” 

“She does now,” said Lena, and neither 
denied that. 

“And you know Gyp ran away, because 
the man, I’ve forgotten who he was, went 
to the old hut where he lived to tell his 
mother that he must go to school,” said 
Lena. 

Oh, yes, Polly remembered that. 

“Well, that’s three weeks ago, and his 
mother thinks he’s lost, and she wants the 
police to find him.” 

“There, that’s all the news,” said Les- 
lie; “now let’s play.” 


78 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“And Polly says you know a lovely new 
game,” said Rose, “so let’s play that.” 

“Then come out on the lawn, and we’ll 
play it,” said Leslie. 

“Now we’ll join hands,” said Lena, 
“and dance ’round and ’round keeping 
time to the music that Leslie sings. The 
game is called ‘The Rose Ring,’ so it’s just 
the thing to play while Rose is here. 
You’ll soon learn the verses. Come!” 

Quickly the four little friends clasped 
hands, and gayly they danced about while 
Leslie sang this merry verse: 

“Floating clouds, and sky so blue, 

Flowers of the brightest hue, 

Hearts so light we have to sing 
While we dance a fairy ring.” 

They paused while Leslie explained. 

“The next verse is just as pretty, and 
when we sing that, one of us leaves the 





“They clasped hands, and gaily they danced/' 



-W 


i/ 































% 






















































AT SCHOOL 


79 


ring, and stands in the middle, and we sing 
the name of the one we choose right in the 
verse. This time, it will be you, Princess 
Polly.” 

She laughed gayly, as she spoke, and 
again they clasped hands, and once more 
the merry ring flew round, while Leslie 
sang the second verse. 

“Princess Polly, come this way; 

You must in the center stay. 

Now we trip with footsteps free, 

While the ring consists of three.” 

“Now,” said Leslie, “choose one of us, 
and leave her in the center, while you join 
the ring again.” 

Again they danced to the lively melody 
as Leslie sang the third verse : 

“Polly, quickly tell your choice, 

With your love her heart rejoice. 

Now, once more you join the ring, 

Gayly dance, and gladly sing.” 


80 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


Of course Polly chose Rose, and Rose 
laughed, and chose Polly. 

Then, because they could not continue 
doing that, Polly next chose Lena, and 
then Lena chose Leslie. 

Leslie was still in the center, the others 
dancing around her, when she saw Harry 
passing the driveway. 

“Wait, girls!” she cried, then raising her 
voice she called, “Harry! Harry! come 
here, I choose you!” 

He turned, and seeing the ring, ran to- 
ward them. 

“Hello!” he cried, “what’s the game?” 

“I’ve chosen you, Harry,” Leslie re- 
plied, at the same time catching his arm 
and drawing him inside the ring of laugh- 
ing girls. 

“Well, this is a fine game!” said Harry. 
“What do you call it? £ Snatch the Boy’? 


AT SCHOOL 


81 


I’d think that might be the name of it, by 
the way Leslie snatched me.” 

“Oh, Harry, that isn’t the name,” Leslie 
said, while they all laughed at the name 
he had given it. 

“It’s a lovely game,” said Lena, “and 
it’s called ‘The Rose Ring.’ Now, girls, 
dance around him, and we’ll sing the 
verse.” 

Gayly they sang it, as before, using 
Harry’s name where, at first they had sung 
“Princess Polly.” 

“Master Harry, come this way; 

You must in the center stay. 

Now trip lighter than before. 

Seel Our ring consists of four.” 

“Next verse, you can choose,” said Les- 
lie. 

“All right,” said Harry; “I know which 
one, now!” 


82 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


Faster, and yet faster flew the merry 
ring around him. 

“Harry, quickly tell your choice, 

With your love her heart rejoice. 

Now once more you join the ring, 

Gayly dance and gladly sing,” 

“Come, Rose,” he said, “I choose you. 
I didn’t have to even try to think who it 
would be.” 

Rose’s cheeks were very pink, as she 
took his hand, and entered the ring. 

And now another merry voice told that 
Rob Lindsey was coming to join them. 

“Well, I wondered where Harry had 
gone,” said Rob. “He left me to go home 
after his ball, and was this where he ex- 
pected to find it?” 

“Stop teasing!” said Harry. “Leslie 
wanted me to join the game, so I stayed a 
few minutes.” 


AT SCHOOL 


83 


“He stayed to please Leslie, and then 
he chose Rose Atherton. Oh, my!” 

“Quit it!” cried Harry, laughing. 

“Just wait ’til it’s your turn!” he said. 

Harry now joined the ring, and again 
they danced, this time all sang the verse. 

With a smile. Rose chose Lena, and, of 
course, when her turn came, Lena chose 
Rob, for the fun of seeing him in the ring. 

Then Rob chose Princess Polly. 

“Master Robert, come this way; 

You must in the center stay. 

Swifter yet to dance we strive, 

Now our ring has stretched to five.” 

Anyone could have guessed that. 

Rob always favored Polly Sherwood. 

“Now,” said Leslie, “we’ve each been 
chosen once, and Polly has been chosen 
twice. When we’ve each been inside the 
ring, and one of us is chosen for the second 


84 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

time, she doesn’t chose again, but turns 
round and round, throwing a kiss to each 
of us as we dance about her. 

“There’s a verse for this, too, and it’s a 
pretty one,” she concluded. 

‘Tolly, you for queen we ch<50se, 

And you cannot well refuse, 

Now, once more you join our ring, 

Dancing with us while we $ing. ,, 

It was a pretty picture, the ring of 
merry, smiling playmates circling around 
sunny-haired Princess Polly, while from 
her dainty finger-tips she tossed a kiss to 
each. 

“Thanks! I caught it!” declared Hob, 
as she laughed, and flung a kiss toward 
him. 

“I thought girls couldn’t throw 
straight,” Harry said, with a laugh. 

“Polly did that time!” said Rob, and 


AT SCHOOL 


85 


Polly blushed, and looked down at her 
shoes, so that her long lashes swept her 
cheeks. 

Leslie and Lena clasped her hands, and 
away they tripped, a lively ring of six. 

“Faster, faster!” cried Rob. “Faster, 
and keep time to the fine old verse I’ve 
made.” 

“Why, who ever heard you make poetry, 
Rob*?” cried Lena in surprise. 

“Here’s a dainty one,” said Rob, “and 
you listen. Ready, now! Dance!” 

Around they spun, while Rob sang this 
wild effort at verse making: 

“Hear us while we make a din! 

Are our throats all lined with tin? 

See our little shoes so fine ; 

Some wear sixes, some wear nine !” 

“Oh, Rob!” cried Lena, “we don’t any 
of us wear number nine shoes. How aw- 
ful!” 


86 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“Well, I had to have a rhyme, didn’t 
I?” he said, as well as he could while 
laughing. 

“I could have made it worse, like this: 

“See ! Our shoes are small, but then 
Some of us can wear a ten!” 

Shouts of laughter greeted this, and the 
dancing ceased, because they could not 
dance and laugh at the same time. 

They sat down upon the grass to rest, 
and regain their breath. 

“We’ve had a fine vacation,” said Rob, 
“but I can’t see why the committee put 
up that notice to have school commence 
a week earlier than anyone expected. 
Wonder what their rush was 1 ?” 

“I know,” said Harry, “because I asked 
father this morning, at breakfast, and he 
said that they intend to close school a week 
earlier next summer, so it’s the same num- 


AT SCHOOL 


87 


ber of weeks, after all. Last June the 
week at the end of the term was almost 
too hot to bear/’ 

“Oh, then it’s fair enough,” said Rob, 
“I thought they were intending to give us 
an extra week. Well, I’m glad to-day is a 
pleasant day. We’ve had a jolly morn- 
ing, and this afternoon, Harry, we’ll make 
the bows and arrows we’ve been plan- 
ning.” 

“And we’ll go over to the little grove 
back of Polly’s house, and gather some of 
the fall flowers,” said Leslie; “I mean we 
will if we’d all like to,” she added. 

“Of course we’d like to!” they cried, as 
if with one voice, and they agreed to meet 
soon after lunch, and to bring home as 
many of the wood beauties as they could 
carry. 

The little grove was immediately be- 


88 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

hind Sherwood Hall, and quite near 
enough to be safe to roam through. 

Promptly they met, Leslie and Lena 
finding Polly and Rose waiting for them 
at the corner of the sunny lane that led to 
the grove. 

They found more flowers than they 
dreamed were there, and turned home- 
ward with their arms laden with all the 
blossoms that they could carry. 

“Mamma will use some of these for a 
center-piece at dinner,” said Polly; “she 
likes to have wild-flowers, and quite often 
she uses them instead of blossoms from her 
conservatory.” 

“Wouldn’t it be funny if each of us has 
a center-piece of these same wild-flowers 
to-night?” said Leslie. 

“I wouldn’t wonder if we did,” Lena 


AT SCHOOL 


89 


replied, “for my mamma loves wild-flow- 
ers, and I know yours does, too.” 

They parted at the corner, where they 
had met, Lena and Leslie going down the 
avenue, while Rose and Polly turned to- 
ward Sherwood Hall. 

“See you at school Monday,” the two 
little friends cried, as they stepped out 
onto the avenue. 

“Yes, Monday,” called Polly and Rose 
together. 

“I’m to go over to Aunt Judith’s to 
lunch,” Rose said the next morning, as 
they sprang from the carriage to the side- 
walk in front of the church. 

“Oh, I’d forgotten you were going there 
to-day,” said Polly, a shade of disappoint- 
ment on her sweet face. 


90 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“Well, I do love to stay with you,” Rose 
said, “but you know I promised.” 

“Oh, I know you did,” Polly said 
quickly, “so you truly must go. Mamma 
says we must be careful what we promise, 
but when we’ve made a promise, we must 
keep it. If you hadn't been going there 
to-day, I’d been glad, but you’ll be with 
me late in the afternoon, and then we’ll 
talk fast enough to make up for lost time.” 

They laughed softly, and then entered 
the church, walking up the broad aisle to 
the pew that had belonged to the Sher- 
wood family for many years. 

The music was delightful, but the serv- 
ice was a long one, and Polly was just 
wondering if it would ever end, when 
Rose touched her arm, and pointed to- 
ward a pew at their right, and two rows 
ahead. 


AT SCHOOL 


91 


The pews between where they were sit- 
ting, and the one toward which Rose 
pointed, were vacant, but in that pew sat 
Gwen. 

“What is she doing?” whispered Rose. 

Polly watched her for a few moments. 

She seemed to be very busy, folding 
and unfolding a paper that she had found 
in the rack with the hymn books. 

Sometimes a long feather bobbed above 
the back of the pew. It was one of the 
sort that are used in making feather dus- 
ters. 

Doubtless the janitor had dropped it 
while dusting, but what was Gwen doing 
with it? 

They had not long to wait. 

Again the long, stringy feather bobbed 
as if she were giving it a sharp twist, and 
then, — 


92 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

To Mrs. Harcourt’ s horror, "her small 
daughter took the “soldier cap” that she 
had fashioned from the folded paper, 
clapped it on her curly head and turning 
around, nodded to those seated behind her, 
the old feather wagging with every nod! 

Mrs. Harcourt hastily snatched the cap, 
Mr. Harcourt did nothing, but looked 
volumes, and Gwen, for once quite 
crushed, sat still until the rector said, 
“Amen.” 

She was not wholly subdued, however, 
for as she passed Polly and Rose, she gig- 
gled, as she whispered loudly : 

“I don’t care if I did have to take it off. 
Everyone saw it first, and didn’t that old 
feather wag just beautifully 1 ?” 


CHAPTER V 
at aunt Judith’s cottage 

T HE Sherwood carriage paused at 
the cottage, and Rose, after prom- 
ising Polly that she would not stay very 
long, left the carriage, and sprang to the 
sidewalk. 

A moment she leaned upon the gate, and 
watched the handsome horses, as they 
pranced along the avenue. 

“It’s lovely to be with Princess Polly,” 
she said; then, with a little sigh, she 
turned to walk up the path to the door. 

She wondered if Aunt Judith cared 
much to see her. She had received her in- 
vitation in a prim little note, and this 
93 


94 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

would be the first time that she had seen 
Aunt Judith since Aunt Rose had taken 
her home. 

As she reached the step, the door opened, 
and a thin, eager voice cried : 

“Rose! Little Rose, I felt sure you’d 
come.” 

Rose lifted her face, and Aunt Judith 
stooped to kiss the soft lips. 

Afterward, Rose wondered why. 

In all the time that she had lived at the 
cottage, Aunt Judith had never kissed her. 

“Come right in, and lay your wraps off,” 
Aunt Judith said quickly, “and we’ll 
have lunch.” 

A quiet, reserved woman, she felt almost 
abashed that she had done so bold a thing 
as to have kissed her little niece. 

Therefore she bustled about, to hide her 
confusion, giving a touch here and there, 


AT AUNT JUDITH’S COTTAGE 95 

to the little tea-table that Rose remem- 
bered so well. 

Three times each day she used to sit op- 
posite Aunt Judith and always the little 
dining-room had looked lonely and dark. 

Now, with the memory of the beautiful 
dining-room at the grand home of Aunt 
Rose, the room seemed smaller, and darker 
than ever. 

Then a quick feeling of pity for the 
lonely woman flashed through the loving 
little heart. 

“If this room is lonely with two people 
in it, what can it be with one?” she 
thought. 

“I hope you’ll like your lunch, Rose,” 
said Aunt Judith; “I’ve some of the jam 
you always were so fond of.” 

Rose tried to swallow a lump in her 
throat, but there was something pleading, 


96 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

almost pathetic in Aunt Judith’s effort to 
make Rose glad that she had come. 

“I do like my lunch, and the jam is just 
as nice as it used to be when we had it on 
Sundays and holidays,” Rose said. 

There were light biscuits, and fine tarts, 
the cold ham looked tempting, and the 
plum cake and jam completed the menu 
that Rose so well remembered. 

She knew, now, that Aunt Judith had 
really wished her to come. 

“She didn’t ask me to lunch, just be- 
cause I was here in Avondale,” thought 
little Rose; “she did truly want me.” 

“The old Atherton house used to be 
called very grand,” said Aunt Judith, 
“but Aunt Rose and Aunt Lois lived 
abroad for years, so I’ve not seen it for so 
long that I can’t remember when it was. 
Is it beautiful now 1 ?” 


AT AUNT JUDITH'S COTTAGE 97 


“It’s lovely,” said Rose, “and I never 
thought of it before; why don’t you some- 
times come there?” 

“Your Aunt Rose and I never agreed 
very well when we were girls,” Aunt Ju- 
dith replied, “and we shouldn’t likely do 
much better now.” 

Rose hardly knew what to say. 

“Aunt Rose and Aunt Lois seem pleas- 
ant now” she ventured. 

“Oh, we never quarreled,” Aunt Judith 
said, with an odd smile, “but we didn’t 
exactly agree. Your Aunt Lois was very 
placid and peaceable, but Aunt Rose was 
always set, and when her mind was moved 
in one direction nothing could make her 
change it. I’ll admit I was much like her, 
so you can easily see that we wouldn’t 
hardly be 'chums.’ ” 

Ah, yes, Rose well remembered that 


98 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

1 

Aunt Judith never could be persuaded to 
change her mind, tears and pleading be- 
ing useless. 

“Aunt Rose is just the same/’ she 
thought, “for when I told her I’d so much 
rather go to school with other children, she 
said : 

“ ‘I know what is best. You will have 
private tutors.’ ” 

Rose did not tell her thoughts to Aunt 
Judith, because she feared it might seem 
like complaining. 

She knew that Aunt Rose spared noth- 
ing that money could obtain for her, and 
that she had engaged private tutors be- 
cause she believed that thus Rose would 
be more carefully trained than if she were 
a pupil at the public schools. 

“You have the pretty things to wear 
that you always longed for,” Aunt Judith 


AT AUNT JUDITH’S COTTAGE 99 

said. “I often think of how you craved 
them, but Rose, I couldn't get them for 
you.” 

There were tears in Aunt Judith’s eyes. 

Rose slipped from her chair, and in an 
instant was at Aunt Judith’s side. 

“Oh, I know you couldn’t,” she cried, 
taking the thin hand in both of her own, 
“and I ought not to have wanted them, but 
I couldn’t help it. Truly I couldn’t. 
Aunt Rose is rich, and it’s different for 
her to give nice things to me. It was a 
bother for you to take care of me.” 

Then the strangest thing happened. 

Quickly Aunt Judith’s arms were about 
her, and what was she saying? 

“Rose, little Rose, I’ve missed you so 
that I would have been glad to have all 
the care again. I never knew how much 
you were to me, until they had taken you 


100 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


from me. I would have said that it 
would be a relief to have them care for 
you, but after you were gone, I knew that 
I would give anything to call you back, 
but Rose, — I’d nothing to give. 

“Your Great-aunt Rose would never 
give you up. She’d made up her mind to 
take you to her home, and she was never 
known to change her mind.” 

A rare delight made Rose’s heart beat 
faster, and her cheeks grew pinker. 

“Oh, Aunt Judith, I’m so glad to know 
that you cared when I went. I didn’t think 
you’d miss me,” Rose murmured, leaning 
closer. 

“I didn’t think I would, but it took no 
time for me to find out. Rose, the night 
that I found you were gone, I could not 
sleep. It was then that I knew how lonely 
the cottage would be without you.” 


AT AUNT JUDITH’S COTTAGE 101 

Rose looked up into the face that bent 
over her. 

“I used to think that no one but Princess 
Polly wanted me, and now, why, now 
everyone wants me! Oh, it is sweet to 
know that everyone wants me !” 

The child’s heart was full of happiness 
because now there were those who loved 
her, and she felt rich, rich, — not because 
of her dainty garments and beautiful 
home, but that she now possessed many 
friends, and a wealth of love that was 
freely given her. 

“It hurt more to know you didn’t like to 
take care of me, than it did to wear old 
frocks,” said Rose. 

“Could you forgive that, little Rose, 
since I’d be glad to care for you now?” 
Aunt Judith asked. 

“Oh, yes, I think so,” Rose said eagerly. 


102 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“because now you do care, and that makes 
it seem even, and fair.” 

Little Rose could not be unforgiving. 

She drew her chair around to the side 
of the table nearer Aunt Judith. 

“I’ll sit close beside you while we eat 
our cake and jam,” she said, “and after 
lunch we’ll do the dishes together same 
as we used to.” 

Aunt Judith smiled. How strange it 
was that when the little girl was with her, 
she had never noticed her winning ways. 

Now, she thought there never had been 
a child so charming. 

Deftly Rose wiped the quaint cups and 
saucers, the plates, and then the old-fash- 
ioned spoons. 

When they were all replaced in the wee 
china closet, they turned toward the little 
parlor. 


AT AUNT JUDITH’S COTTAGE 103 


“If you sit in your big rocking-chair. I’ll 
get my little cricket, and sit beside you, 
just where I used to sit when you were 
sewing, and I pulled out the bastings,” 
said Rose. 

Aunt Judith sat down in her favorite 
chair, and Rose noticed that she held a 
tiny box in her hand. 

“Have you something to show me?” she 
asked, “something I haven’t seen?” 

“It is something you’ve often seen,” 
Aunt Judith said, “and you may like to 
see it again.” 

As she spoke, she opened the little round 
box, and there, on a satin lining lay a 
quaint brooch, that Rose well remem- 
bered. 

“Oh, it is Grandpa Atherton’s pin. 
You used to let me see it sometimes, and I 
thought it the loveliest thing I ever saw.” 


104 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“It is to be yours, now,” said Aunt Ju- 
dith. 

“The little flower pin is to be mine /” 
cried Rose. “Why, Aunt Judith, I 
oughtn’t to take it from you. You’ve al- 
ways cared so much for it. Its petals are 
rubies, and its tiny yellow center you told 
me was a topaz, and the wee leaves are em- 
eralds. It is all so tiny and dainty you 
couldn’t bear to part with it.” 

“I want you to have it,” Aunt Judith 
said, firmly. 

“Your Aunt Rose gives you fine clothes, 
and your Uncle John, I hear, has lost his 
heart to you, and this is something I can 
give you, and I’m going to give it to you. 

“All I ask is that you always take good 
care of it (it is valuable) , and that you re- 
member that it belonged to Grandfather 
Atherton.” 


AT AUNT JUDITH’S COTTAGE 105 


“I will, oh, I will ,” cried Rose, “and I’d 
rather have it than anything I’ve ever 
seen.” 

And when, after a long, pleasant talk 
she saw that it was time for her to go, she 
put on her pretty coat and hat, reached up 
to offer a kiss to Aunt Judith, and ran 
down the little path to the gate. 

“I’ll write you little letters sometimes, 
Aunt Judith,” she said, “and I do thank 
you, oh, so very much for the lovely pin. 
I’ll never come to Avondale without com- 
ing to see you.” 

She closed the gate, and turned again, 
and yet again, as she walked up the ave- 
nue, to wave her hand. 

“I’m sorry to leave her; she misses me,” 
thought Rose. 

“I’d think I had a blessing if I had her 
now,” murmured Aunt Judith. 


106 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

Just before the bend of the road would 
hide the cottage, Rose turned again, and 
this time she threw a kiss. 

The pin, a quaint heirloom, was greatly 
admired at Sherwood Hall, and Polly was 
delighted that the afternoon at the cot- 
tage had shown that Aunt Judith really 
cared for Rose. Polly wished everyone to 
love Rose. 

The first day at school was much like all 
first days when many new pupils arrive. 

But little work was done, and the pupils 
were merry. The fact that there were 
few recitations did not trouble them. 

Rob confided to Harry at recess that he 
honestly believed that at least a half 
dozen schools must be vacant, because 
their pupils had left and come to Avon- 
dale. 


AT AUNT JUDITH'S COTTAGE 107 

The huge number of pupils would have 
caused anyone to wonder whence they had 
come. 

“I shall not play with any of those 
strange children / 5 Gwen Harcourt an- 
nounced; c Tve enough friends from my 
own neighborhood . 55 

It would not have sounded kind under 
any circumstances, but Gwen made it ap- 
pear as harsh as possible. 

Instead of saying it to one of her own 
little friends, when alone with her, she 
took the time when standing very near a 
group of the new pupils. 

In an instant, by that one foolish 
speech, she made a number of enemies. 

Later, after a rather rough game of 
“Snap-the-whip , 55 with Gwen doing all 
the “snapping , 55 they sat down to rest. 

Polly and Rose never knew just how it 


108 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


happened, but someone said that she 
never could bear to search for lost articles, 
and she said that she found it hard to be 
patient because she seemed always to be 
losing something that she valued. 

It was then that Gwen spoke. 

“People are always losing things,” she 
said, “and some say the things are lost , and 
some say disappear . I say disappear!” 

“Why do you say that word?” Vivian 
Osborne asked. 

“Because half the time they’re not lost. 
They’ve only disappeared ,” she said. 

Several hearing what she had said drew 
nearer, and now none of the group was 
seated on the grass. 

They had become interested, and all 
were standing near the gravel walk that 
divided the girls’ yard from that reserved 
for the boys. 


AT AUNT JUDITH’S COTTAGE 109 

Seeing Gwen the center of a group, a 
number of the boys had drawn nearer, and 
stood listening to what she was saying. 

“Of course folks are all the time saying 
that they lose things, and who knows 
where they go? 

“Sometimes they are just lost , and 
sometimes you can’t tell who took them. 
My papa knew a man once, who could 
just wish he had a thing, and no matter 
who had it, quicker’n a wink, that very 
thing he wanted would be in his house. 

“I asked papa how he could do it, and 
he said : ‘Oh, he simply fixed his mind on 
the thing he so wanted, and it came to 
him . 5 I mean to fix my mind on things I 
want, and get them just that way!” 

“Why; Gwen!” cried Harry Grafton, 
“anyone would think you were planning 
to steal like a highwayman !” 


110 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“Steal!” cried Gwen, her cheeks very 
red, and her eyes flashing, while her small 
hands worked nervously. 

“Who said anything about stealing? 
I said just fix my mind on the thing I 
wanted, and I’d make it come to me.” 

“I’ll look out that Harcourt girl doesn’t 
get very near any of my things!” said a 
boy who stood near enough so that Gwen 
heard what he said. 

Inez drew nearer to Gwen, and reach- 
ing around another little girl who stood 
in the way, she touched her shoulder. 

“Come away, Gwen,” she said; “none 
of them understand you, but I do. Your 
mamma says it’s just your ’magination 
that makes you say odd things. These 
boys and girls don’t know what real big 
’magination is!” 

Together they walked away from the 


AT AUNT JUDITH’S COTTAGE 111 

laughing crowd, and sat down in a far 
corner of the yard. 

The boys returned to their game of ball, 
and the girls stood talking of what Gwen 
had said. 

“After what that Harcourt girl said, I 
wish my desk had a lock and key,” said 
a thin, pale-faced girl to another girl who 
stood beside her. 

“Wasn’t she bold to say what she did*?” 
queried the girl who had first spoken. 

“I don’t know,” her friend said doubt- 
fully. 

“Well, I do,” was the quick reply, “for 
with her big talk about things disappear- 
ing, an’ her a-wishing them ter come to 
her is just as bold as it could be, an’ I’m 
goin’ ter keep a sharp eye on all of my 
things !” 

She was a girl whose untidy appearance 


112 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

bespoke an ignorant family, and her 
friend was quite as unattractive. 

There were but few such in the school, 
and they came from a small, but thickly- 
settled district near the mill. 

The great mill was on the outskirts of 
Avondale, and the river seemed like a 
boundary line that divided that desolate 
part of the town from the larger and finer 
district. 

The houses there were small, and there 
were no shrubs to add a bit of summer 
beauty, no trees to give grateful shade. 


CHAPTER VI 

WHO WAS IT? 

T HERE were merry days at school 
when everything moved 
smoothly. The teachers and pupils 
seemed to be in sympathy, and nothing 
unusual happened until the last day that 
Rose was to be a visitor. 

The days at school with Polly had been 
delightful. The teachers had liked the 
little girl whose large dark eyes looked 
up so thoughtfully whenever her name 
was called. 

Rose was indeed happy. 

She had read with the reading class, 
from the book that Polly held. She had 
113 


114 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


sung at the music hour, her sweet voice 
making the music sweeter; she had joined 
in their games at recess, all her former 
playmates, and many, many new ones 
loved her dearly. 

Now she was to be at school with Prin- 
cess Polly but one more day, and on the 
morrow, she must return to Aunt Rose, 
to be ready to meet her own teachers the 
first day of the next week. 

“Oh, dear!” murmured Polly on the 
way to school, “I don’t want you to go 
to-morrow, but then,” she added, “I 
wouldn’t ever be ready to let you go.” 

“And I wouldn’t ever be ready to go,” 
said Rose, “but we’ll have a nice time 
to-day, just the nicest time we can, and 
perhaps it won’t be long before you can 
come to see me.” 

They had reached the schoolhouse 


WHO WAS IT? 


115 


door, and seeing no children in the yard, 
believed that they were late. 

They ran in and reached their seats at 
just one minute of nine. 

“Just in time not to be really late,” 
the teacher said, with a smile. 

It proved to be a day of odd hap- 
penings. 

Five boys were very late, coming in 
when the classes were singing. 

One of the girls who had taken her 
books home the night before, forgot to 
bring them, and had to return for them. 

Gwen Harcourt immediately decided 
to take her books home every afternoon. 

“I could forget them quite often,” she 
thought, “and I’d love to go home to get 
them. I could go so slow that by the 
time I got back to school, it would be 
about time to go home.” 


116 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

Few pupils were ready with their les- 
sons, and questions were answered at 
random. 

Someone, by accident, or intention, 
dropped a pile of books upon the floor, 
and confusion reigned. 

Then, for a time, the room was quiet, 
and the tired teacher was just wondering 
how long it might last when a wee girl 
in the front row uttered a wild shriek, at 
the same time pointing toward the 
window. 

“What is it, Katie*?” the teacher 
asked kindly, thinking that someone had 
hurt her. 

“Oh, dear! Was it pins, or pinching 
that made her scream?” thought the 
weary woman. 

But Katie did not answer, and con- 
tinued to scream. 


WHO WAS IT? 


117 


“Come here to me!” was the quick 
command, to which Katie replied: 

“I can’t, I’m afraid to stir.” 

Now really alarmed, Miss Brandon 
crossed the room to where the little girl 
sat crying, and trembling with fear, her 
face hidden behind her apron that she 
had thrown upward to shut out whatever 
the object had been that had frightened 
her. 

“Now, Katie, stop crying,” she said, 
“and tell me why you screamed; did 
someone hurt you?” 

Katie shook her head, kept her apron 
over her face, but pointed toward the 
window. 

It was some time before the little girl 
would uncover her face, or tell what had 
caused her to hide it, but at last the story 


came out. 


118 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“Tell me at once what you saw,” said 
the teacher firmly, “and put your apron 
down. There’s nothing to be seen from 
the window that could startle anyone.” 

“Oh, but he was awful!” gasped Katie, 
still sobbing. “He had on a old hat with 
feathers sticking up over the top, and he 
had awful big teeth, and when he showed 
’em, an’ grinned at me, and turned his 
eyes in, I couldn’t help screeching, for he 
looked’s if he’d jump right through the 
window at me!” 

Miss Brandon walked to the window, 
and looked out. 

“There is no one in sight,” she said 
quietly. 

“There was! Oh, there was!” insisted 
little Katie, commencing to cry again. It 
was quite evident that something very 
real had frightened her. 


WHO WAS IT? 


119 


“Was anyone looking toward the win- 
dow when Katie screamed < ?” the teacher 
asked. 

“I was , 55 said Harry Grafton, “and it 
was Gyp that scared her, and I should 
think he would. He had hen’s feathers 
stuck in all ’round his hat, and the big 
teeth she saw were just orange peel.” 

“And who is Gyp 4 ? That can not be 
his name,” Miss Brandon said, smiling. 

“He hasn’t any other,” said Harry. 

“And his folks live in a shanty over by 
the woods,” volunteered another boy. 

“And they say they hook ’bout half of 
what they have to live on!” cried a larger 
boy, who did not intend to be outdone. 

“He says he won’t go to school, ’cause 
he don’t want to, and he thinks they can’t 
make him,” shouted a small boy in the 
back row of seats. 


120 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“That will do,” said Miss Brandon. 
“You have given me a very good idea of 
the sort of person Gyp is, and I will see 
if he can be prevented from annoying us.” 

The pupils were greatly excited by 
Gyp’s appearance, and many were the 
whispered comments, and notes ex- 
changed, all telling of Gyp’s various 
misdoings. 

It was impossible to quiet them, or to 
keep their minds upon their lessons, and 
Miss Brandon dismissed them at a quarter 
of twelve, sending one of the larger girls 
along with frightened little Katie. 

There was to be no school in the after- 
noon, and one small boy said that he 
heard his father say that there was to be 
a “Teachers’ invention ,” that afternoon. 

Polly and Rose were delighted that the 
afternoon was to be theirs, and planned 


WHO WAS IT? 


121 


enough things to do in the few hours to 
fill a week’s time. 

How that afternoon and evening flew! 

Polly begged to be permitted to sit up 
a little later than usual, and the evening 
spent with games and music sped swiftly. 

They were asleep as soon as their heads 
touched their pillows. 

A surprising thing happened the next 
morning. 

Rose had expected to take the train that 
left Avondale at eight, and Mrs. Sher- 
wood and Polly were intending to drive 
to the station with her. 

At seven, Polly, having dressed first, 
was looking from the chamber window. 
Rose, sitting upon the rug, was tying her 
shoe ribbons. 

“Why, who could be coming here at 
seven o’clock?” cried Polly, as a fine car- 


122 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


riage rolled up the driveway. “I didn’t 
think mamma ever invited guests to be 
here so early.” 

“Why, there’s nobody in the carriage!” 
she added, as it drew up at the door. 

Rose ran to the window. 

“Why, that’s Aunt Rose’s carriage, and 
that’s our coachman!” she cried. “Why 
should he be here?” 

They hurried out into the upper hall. 

The maid was opening the door. 

“I’ve brought this note for Mrs. Sher- 
wood,” said the man. 

“That is James,” whispered Rose. 

They heard the maid tap at Mrs. Sher- 
wood’s door to deliver the note. 

Then, in a moment Mrs. Sherwood ap- 
peared in the hall. 

“This is most unexpected,” she said to 
Rose. “Your aunt has sent for you, as 


WHO WAS IT? 


123 


she feels that you should be at home quite 
early this forenoon. She explains her 
haste by saying that your music teacher, 
who is to train you in both vocal and 
piano music, has arrived, and he is very 
eager to meet you.” 

“Oh, dear, why do I have to rush off 
like that?” cried Rose. “And vocal les- 
sons! Why, I can’t sing!” 

“Perhaps you can, with proper train- 
ing,” said Mrs. Sherwood, with an amused 
smile. 

It seemed to her that Aunt Rose was 
unduly hasty, but she thought it best not 
to say so. 

“I don’t see why eight o’clock isn’t just 
as good as seven,” complained Polly. 

“Neither do I,” agreed Rose, “but when 
Aunt Rose thinks of anything she wants 
done, it has to be done that minute , and 


124 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

nothing will make her wait. I wish she 
wouldn’t do so!” 

There was no way of changing Aunt 
Rose Atherton’s plan, however, and so a 
hasty breakfast was placed on the dining- 
room table, and Rose and Polly tried very 
hard to enjoy it. 

Neither was at all eager for the meal, 
and it was soon over, “good-by” was 
said, and Rose waved her handkerchief 
from the carriage window to Princess 
Polly, who stood on the porch. 

Then Polly, sweet Polly, spoke more 
sharply than she ever had before. 

“I don’t care!” she cried, her lashes wet 
with tears, “I do think her Aunt Rose was 
horrid to send for her like that, and all 
because an old teacher had come! She 
might have — ” 

“Polly! Polly!” Mrs. Sherwood’s 


WHO WAS IT? 


125 


voice was as gentle as usual, but reprov- 
ing. 

“Oh, mamma, I didn’t mean to say any- 
thing very dreadful about her,” Polly 
said, “but don’t you truly think it was 
unkind to make Rose rush off like that*?” 

“Perhaps not unkind, for it was only 
an hour earlier than she had intended to 
go,” said Mrs. Sherwood, “but it surely 
seemed a little odd. We must not speak 
harshly, Polly, because Aunt Rose doubt- 
less thought it best.” 

It was a long ride to the old Atherton 
house, and all the way Rose wondered 
why she had been sent for in such haste. 

She had supposed when she first went 
to live with Aunt Rose, that she would 
soon be acquainted with little girls whom 
she could enjoy as playmates, and with 



126 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

whom she would go to school. She soon 
learned that very different plans had been 
made for her. 

Aunt Rose held the opinion that few, 
very few, families were quite the equal of 
the Athertons, and she viewed with horror 
the idea of permitting her little niece to 
attend the public school, or indeed even 
a private school. 

“But I’m lonesome,” Rose had pleaded, 
“and I want someone to play with. If I 
went to school I’d soon know ever so many 
girls and boys, and I want to.” 

“Many of them would belong to fami- 
lies that I never knew,” said Aunt Rose. 

“But they might be nice,” Rose had 
ventured. 

“And they might not,” Aunt Rose had 
replied. 

“I’d risk it!” said Rose, 


WHO WAS IT f 


127 


“Rose! You are an Atherton!” Aunt 
Rose had declared, and poor little Rose 
had whispered, “I wish I wasn’t!” but she 
would not have dared to say that. 

She did not really mean it, for daily she 
realized that being an Atherton gave her 
the beautiful home, the fine clothing, and 
the right to the love of her dear Uncle 
John. 

Now, as she rode along, she tried to 
imagine what the new teacher would be 
like. 

She decided that she must look some- 
what like Polly’s teacher, Miss Brandon. 

And when they had reached the house, 
the maid opened the door, removed Rose’s 
hat and coat, and pointing toward the 
drawing-room, said: 

“They’re in there, yer aunt and yer 
new teacher, and do ye go right in.” 


128 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

Rose pushed the heavy portiere aside, 
and went straight to greet Aunt Rose. 

“This, Rose, is the lady who will be 
your teacher and governess , 55 Aunt Rose 
said, and the little girl turned to see a pair 
of pale blue eyes looking sharply at her. 

Rose shivered. 

“Oh, she doesn’t look pleasant at all , 55 
she thought. 

Miss Glendon returned Rose’s gaze, 
without the faintest effort at a smile, and 
Rose knew that this was not a pleasant 
teacher. 

She felt that she was a woman who did 
not love children. 

Oh, how could she study with her? 

Miss Glendon, having looked at Rose 
as if she were a piece of furniture, turned, 
without a word to the little girl, to speak 
to Aunt Rose. 


WHO WAS IT? 


129 


“The lessons may as well commence 
to-day,” she said, with a voice that showed 
as little interest as if she had spoken 
of machinery that she intended to set 
running. 

A room next to Rose’s chamber had 
been chosen for lessons, and study, and it 
had been refurnished for the purpose 
while she had been at Sherwood Hall. 

Rose never forgot the first day with her 
new teachers. 

Miss Glendon was cold, and far from 
attractive, and Rose thought that she had 
never spent so unpleasant a forenoon. 

She wondered when it would be time 
for the teacher to go. 

Was every day to be like this? 

A lesson in arithmetic occupied the last 
hour of the session, and its puzzling little 
problems kept Rose so busy that she for- 


130 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

got to watch the clock, and was surprised 
when the maid stopped at the door to 
announce lunch. 

“You may put your books aside,” said 
Miss Glendon, and Rose waited for no 
urging. 

She wondered why Miss Glendon did 
not get her wraps. Had Aunt Rose in- 
vited her to stay to lunch? She hoped 
not. 

A surprise awaited her. 

As she ran down the stairs, followed by 
Miss Glendon, Aunt Rose came from the 
drawing-room accompanied by the droll- 
est looking little man with whom she was 
talking earnestly. 

He proved to be the man whom Aunt 
Rose had chosen as musical instructor for 
Rose. 

He greeted the little girl kindly, and 


WHO WAS IT? 


131 


seemed to be a more agreeable person than 
Miss Glendon. 

Rose watched him during lunch, and 
the longer she looked at him, the more she 
wondered where Aunt Rose had found 
him. 

His light hair was very light, and also 
very thin and straight. It must have 
been obstinate as well, because it seemed 
trying to stand on end, and fully half of 
it succeeded in doing so. 

His pale blue eyes seemed nearly color- 
less, but as Rose looked from his face to 
the woman who sat near him, she knew 
that his was the face of a pleasanter 
person. 


CHAPTER VII 

at Lena’s house 

I T had been planned before Rose re- 
turned that she should be with Miss 
Glendon every forenoon, with the music 
teacher, Mr. Theophilus Ashton an hour 
on Saturdays, to recite her piano and 
vocal lessons, and a half hour each day 
to practice singing with him. 

Aunt Rose did not wish her to sing 
without him, lest she make a mistake. 

Her first music lesson was not very 
interesting, and when it was over, Rose 
ran up to her room. She intended to 
write to Princess Polly and tell her how, 
at the start, she disliked Miss Glendon, 
132 


AT LENA'S HOUSE 


133 


how droll Mr. Ashton was, and how 
closely her days were to be filled with 
lessons and practice. 

In the upper hall she met Aunt Rose, 
and she also saw Miss Glendon enter a 
small chamber at the end of the hall. 

“Isn’t she gone yet?" Rose asked in 
surprise. 

“Gone?” said Aunt Rose; “why she is 
to be your governess, and will live here 
all the time.” 

“Oh, I wish she wasn’t to stay here!” 
she cried. “I don’t like her, and it’ll be 
hard enough to have her here for lessons!” 

“Why, Rose!” 

“Oh, but she doesn’t like little girls, I 
know she doesn’t, and to have her here 
all the time — ” 

A sob completed the sentence. 

Aunt Rose was amazed. 


134 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


She had taken a great fancy to Miss 
Glendon, and she could not understand 
why Rose felt such a strong dislike for 
her. 

“You have been very sweet-tempered 
since you came to live with me,” she said, 
“and I can’t see why, when your lessons 
have but just begun, you should be so 
unhappy about them.” 

“The same lessons at school with the 
other children would seem so different,” 
Rose said, “and if the teachers weren’t 
pleasant, I’d leave them when school was 
out and come home to you and Aunt Lois. 
Miss Glendon is to be here all the time, 
so I can t get away!” 

As she spoke, she ran to her pretty room, 
and sat down in her little chair by the 
window. 

“Oh, Uncle John! I wish it was you 


AT LENA’S HOUSE 


135 


I lived with!” she whispered. “Aunt 
Rose doesn’t mean to make me unhappy,” 
she murmured a moment later, “she just 
doesn’t see how unpleasant it is.” 

Poor little Rose! She was neither 
stubborn nor unreasonable. 

She had longed to enjoy school with 
other children, and when she learned that 
she must, instead, have private teachers, 
she had hoped that they might be pleasant 
people, who would be interested in her. 

The governess was a cold, formal 
woman who cared little for children, 
and taught only for the money it would 
bring. 

Rose shrank from her. 

No one need ever tell children that she 
loves them. 

They know a loving heart, and tender 
voice, and their own little hearts respond 


136 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


as quickly as the flowers open at the kiss 
of the sun. Quite as quickly do the chil- 
dren know those unlovely people who are 
not friendly toward them, and from them 
always, they draw away. 

The friendship and love of the children 
are very precious things. 

Dinner proved to be rather dull. Aunt 
Lois, because of her deafness, rarely at- 
tempted to join in conversation; Miss 
Glendon seemed little inclined to talk, 
while Rose’s mind was so filled with 
thoughts of what she would write to 
Polly, that she forgot to speak. 

That night, when Dorcas helped her 
undress, and attempted to turn off the 
light, she begged her to leave it burning. 

“I won’t stay up long,” she coaxed, “but 
I must write a letter to my Princess 
Polly.” 



“Daintily she tripped along.” 









AT LENA’S HOUSE 


137 


The weeks had sped since Rose had 
made the pleasant little visit to Sherwood 
Hall. 

In place of the gay flowers in the 
garden, there were snow-clad plants and 
shrubs, from which hung icy pendants. 

Roof and portico, piazza and balcony 
were covered with a mantle of snow, and 
from every edge hung a fringe of dazzling 
icicles. 

Truly Sherwood Hall had never looked 
more lovely. 

As if to complete the picture, Princess 
Polly in a beautiful cloak, hat and furs 
came down the steps to the driveway. 

Daintily she tripped along. 

Her cloak was of soft pink, her large 
picturesque hat the same color, with 
nodding white plumes, and the furs were 


ermine. 


138 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

She was to spend the afternoon with 
Lena Lindsey, and Leslie Grafton, Inez 
Varney, and Vivian Osborne were to be 
there. 

It was not a party. 

Lena had invited her nearest and 
dearest playmates to spend the after- 
noon, and dine with her. 

“I don’t like to ask Inez, mamma,” she 
had said, “because now, she isn’t as 
pleasant as she used to be.” 

“But I have often asked you to have 
your playmates with you for an afternoon, 
and at dinner,” said Mrs. Lindsey, “and 
always before this, Inez has been one of 
the little guests. It would not be kind 
to omit her now.” 

“I’ll ask her,” Lena had said, “but 
truly, I don’t believe she’ll come. She 
doesn’t play with us very often since 


AT LENA’S HOUSE 


139 


Gwen Harcourt came to Avondale to 
live.’’ 

“Gwen is away just now, visiting her 
cousin, so Inez may be lonely and like to 
come,” Mrs. Lindsey had said, with a 
smile. 

When Polly arrived, she was a bit late, 
and Lena, with the other little guests, was 
looking for her. 

“Here’s Polly, Princess Polly!” she 
cried, and Polly, laughing gayly, ran up 
the steps, and in at the open door. 

There was a new game that Lena had 
just received as a gift, and they were all 
very eager to play it. 

“Any number can play it,” she said, “so 
come here to the table and we’ll begin.” 

It was very amusing, and it was easy 
to learn, so when the gay little cards with 
butterflies and flowers upon them, had 


140 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

been dealt they ceased to chatter, each 
being determined to play carefully, and 
so win a prize. 

Inez was not with them. 

Vivian had whispered to Leslie when 
they were taking off their wraps that she 
believed Inez would stay away because 
Gwen could not be there. 

The little players were excited. At 
one moment it would look as if Lena 
would surely win. Then Leslie would be 
the lucky one, and then Lena would seem 
to be the one for the prize. 

“Oh, isn’t it fun!” cried Polly. 

“And the best of it is, we can’t guess 
how it’s coming out!” Lena said. 

“It looks now as if Leslie — ” Vivian 
did not finish the sentence, for a sharp ring 
at the bell was followed by a voice that 
said, as the door opened: 


AT LENA’S HOUSE 


141 


“Oh, I know I’m late, although I ran 
almost all the way.” 

It was Inez, and Lena tried to feel glad 
that she had come. 

“What are you all playing?” she asked. 

“A new game that was given me,” said 
Lena. “Lll deal some more cards for you, 
and you can come right into the game 
now.” 

“Oh, you needn’t give me any cards,” 
Inez said, bluntly. “I’ll watch you play.. 
I don’t care for the game.” 

Lena hesitated. 

Which was the right thing to do? 

It seemed rude to continue playing and 
leave Inez to watch them. 

Was it not more rude to compel the 
other guests to stop playing the game that 
they were enjoying, in order to please 
Inez? 


142 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“I guess as most of us want to play, it’s 
most polite to go right on playing,” she 
thought. 

“The game will soon be done,” she said 
to Inez, “so perhaps we’d better finish it.” 

“Oh, of course,” said Inez, with a toss 
of her head. 

“Play for us, Inez,” Lena said, for she 
knew that Inez played very well for a 
child, and she liked to show what she could 
do. 

Inez seated herself at the piano, and 
began the prelude to a pretty little piece 
that she had just learned. 

She was still playing, and the small 
girls at the table were greatly excited at 
their game, when again the bell rang. 

They looked up, and Inez stopped play- 
ing, for, in a moment, they all knew who 
had arrived. 


AT LENA’S HOUSE 


143 


They also knew that she had not been 
invited. 

It was Gwen Harcourt! 

Inez stared in amazement. Only a half 
hour before, Gwen had spoken angrily 
because she had no invitation, yet here she 
was, daintily dressed, as if Mrs. Harcourt 
had believed her to have been invited. 

And surely she had been invited, — she 
had invited herself! 

She was not at all abashed, and she 
entered boldly, her eyes very bright, and 
her cheeks flushed. 

“What are you all doing?” she asked, 
looking toward the group at the table. 

Before they could answer, Inez spoke. 

“They’re playing a game that I guess 
is going to last all night,” she said, “so as 
I’m left out, I’m glad you’ve come. We 
can be company for each other.” 


144 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“Why, Inez!” said Lena, “we didn’t 
leave you out; we had commenced the 
game before you came.” 

“Oh, it’s all right, of course,” Inez said, 
but anyone could have seen that she was 
displeased. 

Just at that moment Polly placed upon 
the table the one card for which the 
others had been striving. 

“Princess Polly has won!” cried Leslie. 

It was an amusing game, and those who 
had played it, thought it would be fine to 
play again, and see who could win. 

Gwen and Inez rudely refused to play, 
so Lena tried to think of something that 
they might all enjoy, but nothing that she 
suggested seemed to please the two un- 
pleasant little guests. 

“I’ll tell you what we could do,” said 
Gwen. “We could play tableaux!” 


AT LENA’S HOUSE 


145 


“Oh, yes!” said Inez. “They had them 
at our church Monday evening, and they 
were fine!” 

“I guess we’d all like to do that,” said 
Lena. 

She thought it odd that Gwen should 
choose anything so reasonable. Usually 
she wished to wildly romp. 

“We’ll draw the portieres,” said Gwen, 
“and all of you take turns making tab- 
leaux. Inez and I will make ours, after 
everyone of you has made one.” 

As Gwen usually wished to be first in 
everything, it was safe to guess that she 
believed that her tableau would be the 
finest, and that it would show to advan- 
tage after all the others had been seen. 

Lena posed first, and Leslie opened the 
portieres to show her. 

“Say, everyone listen!” she said. 


146 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“This is a copy of the painting in the hall. 
Lena is sitting just like the girl in the pic- 
ture, only we had to use geraniums in her 
hands instead of roses.” 

“Oh, that’s fine!” cried the little audi- 
ence. Loudly they clapped their hands 
in applause. 

“The next is Leslie’s, and she’s most 
ready,” announced Lena from behind the 
curtain. 

“There!” she cried, as she swung it 
wide. “This is ‘Red Ridinghood,’ ” and 
she added; “isn’t she just like her?” 

Leslie, in Lena’s red rain cloak, the 
hood drawn over her head, and a basket, 
made a very winsome little lass. 

“The next is Polly’s,” said Lena, “and 
you’ll like it, I know.” 

“Why will we like it?” Gwen asked 
quickly. 


AT LENA’S HOUSE 


147 


“Oh, because it’s so real” said Lena. 

It took some time to arrange it, and 
there was much whispering and hurrying 
about before everything was complete. 

Mrs. Lindsey came in to see this tab- 
leau, and she chatted with the small girls 
who sat waiting. 

“The name of this picure is ‘Princess 
Polly,’ and she’s wearing what we think 
she ought to wear all the time,” said Lena. 

Truly it proved to be a pretty picture. 
A big box had been brought into the hall, 
turned upside down, and then covered 
with a rich, red rug. 

On the little throne thus made, stood 
the carved hall chair, its high back far 
above Polly’s sunny head, and in the chair 
sat Polly. 

She wore what seemed to be a long red 
velvet mantle. It was an old opera cloak 


148 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


that Mrs. Lindsey had loaned them. 

On her curly head rested a lovely crown. 

Oh, but she looked every inch a 
princess ! 

How they wondered about that crown, 
until Mrs. Lindsey told them what it was. 

“That crown looks very fine/ 5 she said; 
“I did not guess what it was when I first 
saw it, but now I know. It is my old 
gilt belt clasped around Polly’s head. 
You are a sweet little princess, dear.” 

Vivian posed as a nun, and made a very 
demure little figure, in a long gray cloak, 
a white handkerchief folded across her 
forehead. 

Mrs. Lindsey did not see Vivian, be- 
cause she had left the room to receive a 
lady who had called upon her. 

Gwen whispered to Inez, in great ex- 
citement. 


AT LENA’S HOUSE 


149 


“Oh, I hoped she’d go pretty soon, for 
if she’d stayed she might have stopped the 
tableau,” she said. 

“Oh, Gwen !” Inez whispered, in reply, 
“you really mustn’t do it much!” 

“Who said I should?” Gwen snapped, 
and the preparations went on. 

“Hurry up!” cried the impatient audi- 
ence, beginning to clap. 

“We are hurrying,” replied Gwen. 

Then they heard more whispering. 

“I can’t get it, because I’m ’fraid to,” 
whispered Inez. 

“Oh, you’re a fraidie cat!” whispered 
Gwen. “I’ll get it myself!” 

She had been out to the stable, and the 
tool house adjoining it, and, after much 
hunting, had found an old watering pot. 

Four trips upstairs to the bathroom had 
been made, with a large pitcher, borrowed 


150 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


from the dining-room, and now the water- 
ing pot was nearly full. 

The two little imps were now so ex- 
cited that they began to laugh, and could 
not stop. 

Inez, in Lena’s raincoat, and rubbers, 
stood holding up her skirts, as if, short as 
they were, they must be lifted when 
walking out. 

Gwen stood on the hall table that she 
had pushed close behind Leslie. 

What was she intending to do 1 ? 

“This tableau is called ‘A Rainy 
Day,’ ” cried Gwen, from behind the cur- 
tain, “and I’m busy, so someone’ll have 
to pull the portiere away.” 

She shouted as if in a great hurry, so 
Polly ran forward, and drew it aside. 

“Look!” cried Gwen. “Isn’t this 
natural ?” 


AT LENA’S HOUSE 151 

Down poured the water from the 
watering pot that she held above Inez’ 
head, over the red cloak, and plashing 
upon the polished floor. 

‘Isn’t this the reales t tableau?” 

She stepped too near the edge of the 
table, and girl, and watering pot came 
down in a heap in the middle of the 
puddle that Gwen had thought made the 
downpour “real.” 

Then all was confusion. 

Mrs. Lindsey, whose caller had already 
gone, rushed to the hall, while two maids 
came from another direction. 

The children were too frightened to 
stir, and sat still in their chairs, watching, 
with wide eyes, while Gwen and Inez 
were picked up, and the maids tried to 
gather up bits of broken ornaments, and 
to take up the water that lay on the floor. 


CHAPTER VIII 

GYP 

O F course the story of Gwen’s tab- 
leau reached the school. 

Not one of the little playmates had told 
about it, so each wondered how nearly 
everyone could know what had happened 
at Lena’s house. 

Gwen and Inez were absent, so they did 
not dream that any children, except those 
who were there, knew anything about it. 

Mrs. Lindsey had been very kind and 
patient, but Gwen had stoutly refused to 
stay, and with a cloak borrowed from 
Lena, she had hurried home. 

Inez had refused to remain after Gwen 
152 


GYP 


153 


started for home, and went with her for 
company. 

The day proved to be an exciting one. 
Polly often said that she did not like quiet 
days at school, because those were the 
ones when nothing happened. 

It was Friday noon. The morning had 
been spent in speaking, singing, piano 
solos, and the children, on their way home 
from school, talked of the pieces to which 
they had listened. 

“Your piece was lovely, Polly,” Vivian 
said, “and I liked the part where it told 
about the fairies dancing on the grass.” 

“And I liked yours,” said Polly, “and 
Vivian!” she called, as she turned toward 
home, “call for me this afternoon.” 

“I will,” cried Vivian, “and I’ll come 
early.” 

A half hour before school time, Vivian 


154 : PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

ran up the steps to the piazza. Polly, 
who was watching for her, flew out to join 
her, and the two little friends ran down 
the driveway together, sliding whenever 
they found a bit of ice that was smooth. 

“I’ve a letter from Rose,” said Polly, 
“and I do wish her aunt hadn’t wanted to 
have private teachers for her. Rose 
doesn’t like it at all.” 

“I shouldn’t think she would,” Vivian 
said, “for from the time she first went 
there to live, she said it was dull and 
lonely, and I thought she’d be going to 
school, and that would help.” 

“Oh, but you don’t know how horrid it 
is!” said Polly. 

“The lady teacher isn’t pleasant at all, 
and Rose says she knows she doesn’t like 
little girls, and what do you think? Her 
name is Miss Glendon, and she stays 


GYP 


155 


there, right in the house, all the time. 
Her aunt calls her a ‘governess,’ and now 
she wants her to walk out with Rose when- 
ever she goes out. Just think! That’s 
like being a little tiny girl, and always 
having a maid with her.” 

“Why, then she’ll always have either 

Aunt Rose, or Miss what did you say 

her name was?” Vivian asked. 

“ Glendon , Miss Glendon, and Rose 
said she thought she couldn’t bear it when 
she knew she’d have to have her for a 
teacher, and when she found she was to be 
right in the house with her all the time, 
she told her Aunt Rose how badly she 
felt,” concluded Polly. 

“Well, if she knows how Rose feels, 
why doesn’t she get a different teacher?” 
Vivian asked. 

“Why, Rose says her aunt thinks Miss 


156 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

Glendon is fine, and she thinks Rose is 
just queer not to like her,” said Polly. 

“Oh, dear,” sighed Vivian, “I’m sure I’d 
rather be going to school here at Avondale, 
than living in that great, big, handsome 
house, and having Miss Grindon poking 
round all the time!” 

“Oh, oh!” laughed Polly. “It isn’t 
Grindon ; it’s Glendon.” 

Vivian laughed, too, and now they 
turned the corner to go up a long avenue 
to school. 

“We could go through the little grove,” 
said Polly. “There’s a path in the snow, 
trodden by men and boys that have been 
through there. It looks pretty in sum- 
mer in the grove, and it’s almost as pretty 
now, with the snow and ice. Will you go 
that way?” 

“Of course I will,” cried Vivian, “and, 


GYP 


157 


say, Polly! Let’s run so we can walk 
slowly through the grove, and still have 
time to go to school.” 

Down the avenue they raced, Polly 
ahead, but Vivian close behind her, both 
laughing, and holding onto their hats that 
the breeze tried to capture. 

Vivian caught up with her, just at the 
entrance to the grove. 

“Oh, isn’t it beautiful!” cried Princess 
Polly, clasping her hands, and looking 
first at the ice-covered underbrush, and 
then glancing up at the trees clad in glit- 
tering armor. 

“It looks as if it might be the jewel cave 
that you read about, where the elves and 
the brownies lived,” said Vivian. 

“And see the little snowdrift at the 
foot of that tree, and the little bush near 
it, all weighted down with ice,” said Polly. 


158 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“Oh, if this was Saturday, we’d stay here 
all the afternoon.” 

“We can be here a little while, I know, 
because I called early for you, and we 
haven’t been out long,” said Vivian. 

“No, we haven’t,” agreed Polly, “and 
we ran part of the way. The path goes 
around those two birch trees; let’s follow 
it, and come out where those slender 
bushes are sparkling in the sun.” 

They ran along the path, talking and 
laughing until they had nearly reached 
the birches, when Polly stopped, and 
shook her finger at Vivian. 

“Hush-sh-sh!” she whispered. “Look!” 

Vivian looked, and caught her breath. 
A great tree hid the two little girls, and 
peeping out from behind it, they saw a lit- 
tle bonfire, around which an imp-like fig- 
ure was dancing. 


GYP 


159 


There was no mistaking his identity; he 
was Gyp — wild, mischievous Gyp. Over 
the fire hung a small piece of meat that 
swung from a rusty hook, made from a 
piece of heavy wire. 

The hook was fastened to one end of a 
long, slender iron chain. The other end 
of the chain Gyp had slipped over a small 
tree branch. 

Round and round the fire he danced, 
hopping and capering as if he were frantic 
with delight. 

Was he so wildly happy because he was 
anticipating the taste of the meat that siz- 
zled over the blazing fire ? 

Faster, and yet faster he danced, and 
what was he singing? 

“Jmg! Jing! Jing! Jing! 

Now I dance, and now I sing ! 

Fire blazing cooks the meat, 

When it’s ready, how Vll eat!” 


160 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

Then uttering little cries, and still 
dancing wildly around the fire, he seemed 
like a hobgoblin, rather than a mere boy. 

Polly clasped Vivian’s hand. 

“Isn’t he queer?” she whispered. 

“Yes, and sort of horrid, too. It scares 
me to watch him, and I can t look away!” 
Vivian said with a little shiver. 

“That’s why I wish he’d stop that aw- 
ful dancing,” said Polly* “ ’cause we’ll 
watch him just so long as he skips around 
that fire, and I don’t know why it is, but 
he seems frightful, like a demon, or an 
imp.” 

“He does!” whispered Vivian, “and if 
he’d only, — oh, look!” 

With a long stick, Gyp was trying to 
take the piece of meat from the hook. 

Patiently he worked, but every time the 

ick touched it, it would swing away on 


GYP 


161 


its long chain, and then return to its old 
place over the fire. 

He grew angry and struck at the bit of 
meat; it fell from the hook into the now 
smoldering fire. 

Like a little wild creature, he darted 
forward, snatched the meat, and trampled 
the fast dying embers with feet that beat 
and stamped as if in perfect frenzy. 

Then crouching upon a heap of dry 
leaves, he tore the meat into pieces that he 
ate ravenously, as if he feared that some- 
one might, at any moment, hasten toward 
him, and ask for a mouthful. 

Polly and Vivian held their breath. 
They had not dreamed, when they had 
entered the grove, that Gyp was anywhere 
to be seen, yet they knew if he should see 
them, he would say that they were spying. 

They were beginning to feel cramped. 


162 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

Would he never stop eating, and run off? 

They leaned still farther out from be- 
hind the tree that hid them. 

“S’pose we’ll be late to school?” whis- 
pered Vivian. 

Gyp looked up, saw the two little faces 
peeping at him, and sprang from the 
ground, his angry eyes flashing. 

“D’ye want a piece er my meat?” he 
shouted, “ ’cause ye won’t get it, but I’ll 
take this stick, an’ — ” 

On through the grove they ran, over ice 
and snow, sometimes having to force their 
way through underbrush, and when, at 
last, they reached the school-house, there 
was not a child in the yard, and they knew 
that they were late. 

Not once during their long run had they 
looked back, so sure were they that Gyp 
was following them. 


GYP 


163 


Even at the school-house door they did 
not stop to learn if he were near them, but 
hurried in, not sure that they were safe 
until the door had closed behind them. 

Miss Brandon readily excused them 
when they told her what a fright they had 
had. 

“I would not go through the grove, how- 
ever charming it may appear , 55 she said, 
kindly, “but, instead, come up the broad 
avenue . 55 

They were only too glad to promise. 

Nothing could have induced them to 
follow again the path through the grove. 

At recess they told their playmates 
about Gyp, and some of the children 
thought it would have been fine to have 
seen him, and quite envied Polly and 
Vivian. They thought it must have been 
so exciting to be really scared. 


164 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“I guess you wouldn’t have liked it,” 
said Vivian, “if you’d been there, and felt 
as if any minute he’d put his hands on you, 
or poke you with a long stick !” 

“And he truly didn’t look like a real 
boy, when he was dancing around that 
fire,” said Polly, “and I told Vivian he 
looked like an imp.” 

Gwen Harcourt and Inez had been ab- 
sent in the morning, but they had both 
come in the afternoon, and now stood with 
the others, listening to what Polly and 
Vivian were telling of their adventure in 
the grove. 

Gwen soon tired of listening. She usu- 
ally preferred to talk, and have others 
listen. 

“Let’s go back to the school-room,” she 
said, “teacher’ll let us, and it’s cold out 
here.” 


GYP 


165 


Miss Brandon had said that any pupils 
who wished to remain in at recess might 
do so. 

It was cold, and the breeze was raw, so 
the little group moved across the yard to- 
ward the door, Gwen leading the way. 
Wraps were soon hung up, and a little 
group formed near the front row of seats. 

Polly never remembered what they were 
talking about, but she did remember that 
Gwen was in the center of the group, when 
one of the larger girls cried out : 

“Why, where’s my ring 1 ? It was on my 
desk just a moment ago.” 

“How does she s’pose we know where 
it is?” Gwen asked, with a saucy laugh. 

“But it’s too bad if she’s lost it,” said 
Polly. She wondered why Gwen liked to 
be so rude. 

“Too bad !” cried Gwen. “Why do you 


166 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

say that, Polly Sherwood? She doesn’t 
even know it is lost yet.” 

“Princess Polly isn’t likely to be glad 
when folks lose things,” said Rob Lind- 
sey, who had joined the group. 

Just then the bell rang, and the pupils 
returned to their seats. 

“I wouldn’t wonder if that Harcourt 
girl could tell where that ring is,” said an 
awkward, overgrown girl, who had been 
listening to the chatter of the smaller girls. 

“What makes yer think so?” questioned 
a thin, dark girl, who stood near her, add- 
ing: “’Tain’t a very fine thing ter say.” 

“I ain’t often heard saying fine things 
about that Harcourt girl, am I?” she said. 

They both laughed in a disagreeable 
way, and took their seats. 

Weeks had passed, and now the fort- 
night’s vacation had arrived. 


GYP 


167 


It usually included Christmas, but this 
year Christmas had occurred on Saturday, 
and the school was to be closed for the two 
weeks following. 

All eyes were turned toward Sherwood 
Hall, where great pleasure was promised 
for the Wednesday evening of the second 
week. 

The children had planned enough 
amusement to last at least a month, but a 
party, a costume party, was to be given at 
Sherwood Hall, and from the first day that 
the news had been heralded, the children 
talked of little else. 

Whether at play together, or when lit- 
tle friends met on the avenue, or on a 
street corner, the first remark was sure to 
be: “What are you going to wear?” 

They had all heard that Princess Polly 
was to wear something very wonderful. 


168 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

but what it was they could not find out. 

Mrs. Sherwood had sent the invitations 
out early, that each who accepted might 
have plenty of time to choose her costume, 
and have it made for her. 

Nearly every day some bit of news re- 
garding the anticipated party made those 
who were invited even more eager for the 
wonderful evening to come. 

The latest news to delight them was 
told, or rather shouted, by Harry Grafton, 
who ran half the way down the avenue to 
overtake Lena and Rob, and tell it. 

“Oh, say, wait a minute!” he cried. 
“Do you know that Rose Atherton is com- 
ing over to Sherwood Hall for the party?” 

“Oh, but that’s good news,” said Rob. 

“Polly told me she hoped Rose could 
come,” said Lena, “but she wouldn’t feel 
sure ’til she heard from her.” 


GYP 


169 


“Well, she has heard from her, and she 
just told Leslie, and Leslie told me, so I 
ran to overtake you, and now I’ve told 
you,” Harry said, with a laugh. 

“Oh, did Leslie say what Rose is to 
wear?” Lena asked. 

“No, and what’s funnier, Princess Polly 
doesn’t know. Rose’s aunt says her cos- 
tume will be ‘eminently proper.’ What 
does that mean?” Harry asked. 

“I don’t know,” Rob admitted, “but it 
doesn’t sound very fancy, does it?” 

“But Rose has lovely frocks now, so 
whatever her party frock is, it will be fine, 
of course,” Lena said. 

The next bit of news was told by Vivian 
Osborne. 

“There’s loads of laurel and evergreen 
and holly gone up to Sherwood Hall,” she 
cried, on the day before the party, “and I 


170 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

heard the maid tell the man who brought 
it, that he must bring another load of it. 
Won’t it look lovely if it’s all decorated 
with green, and the bright red holly ber- 
ries?” 

“Oh, Sherwood Hall always looks beau- 
tiful,” said Lena, “but I do think the real 
Christmas looking decorations will make 
it very grand.” 

Wednesday, at noon, there was even 
greater excitement. 

Some of the children had seen Rose 
smiling and waving her hand from the car- 
riage window, and they had hastened to 
tell their friends that she was on the way 
to Sherwood Hall. 

Princess Polly was looking for her, and 
ran to greet her when the butler opened 
the door. 


CHAPTER IX 

THE COSTUME PARTY 

L AUGHING gayly, they ran up the 
stairway, the butler following with 
the suitcase, a large hatbox, and a small 
bag. 

“There!” cried Rose, pointing to her 
baggage. “Wouldn’t you think I was to 
stay a week, instead of to-night, and just 
half of to-morrow?” 

“Oh, Rose! Do you have to go right 
back?” said Polly. “I wanted you for the 
rest of this week. Don’t you know 
mamma said so in her letter?” 

“Why, yes,” said Rose, “and you do 
know, Polly, I’d love to stay, but I can’t, 
171 


172 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

because Aunt Rose won’t let me. I’m to 
keep right on with my lessons all winter. 
She says with private teachers I don’t 
need vacations. I don’t see why. I think 
I need them more , because I feel as if I 
had those teachers with me almost every 
minute. One of them stays at our house 
all the time, and I just can’t bear to be 
where she is.” 

Rose sighed, and after a second she 
spoke again. 

“Aunt Rose says I ought to like my tu- 
tors. She does, and she says she’s thank- 
ful that neither of them is frivolous. I 
don’t know what that means, but if it 
would make Miss Glendon nicer, then I 
do wish she was frivolous, whatever it is!” 

While Rose talked, and Polly listened, 
the maid unpacked the suitcase, and from 
it took a quaint little flowered gown, some 


THE COSTUME PARTY 


173 


long mitts, a pair of satin slippers of the 
same tint as the gown. 

From the tiny hatbox came a dainty 
wreath, and a bouquet of fine artificial 
flowers. 

“Oh, what a dear costume !” cried Polly. 
“What is it to represent?” 

“It is a real, old-time frock that was 
worn years and years ago by the first lit- 
tle girl in our family who was named ‘Rose 
Atherton,’ and Aunt Rose wished me to 
wear it,” Rose said. 

“You’ll look sweet in it,” declared 
Polly, “and my costume is to be ready in 
about an hour, and I’ll show it to you 
then. Mamma is out just now, and when 
she comes in she’ll be so glad to see you; 
but while we wait for her, let’s sit in the 
cushioned window and talk.” 

They ran to their favorite window, and 


174 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

each snuggled into a corner, with a soft 
pillow at her back. 

“Now, tell me what your teachers look 
like,” said Polly. 

“Well, I told you, in my letters, that 
Miss Glendon wasn’t pleasant, and she 
doesn’t look pleasant. Her eyes look 
right through you, and her mouth doesn’t 
ever smile. She follows me every step ! 

“I don’t know whether Aunt Rose tells 
her to, or whether she likes to, but, any- 
way, she does it and I wish she wouldn’t. 
Oh, Polly, it’s so queer to feel as if some- 
one, all the time, kept step with you, and 
always watched you!” 

“Oh, I know I wouldn’t like it,” said 
Polly, with ready sympathy, “and I won- 
der why she does it?” 

For a few moments the two little friends 
were silent. Then Polly spoke. 


THE COSTUME PARTY 


175 


“What does the other teacher look 
like?” she asked. 

“He’s funny and his hair stands right 
up, as if it was on end, and when he sings, 
his eyes stick out, and I have to look away, 
or I’d surely laugh. Truly, Princess 
Polly, when he sings he looks as if he were 
scared!” 

“But does he sing nicely?” Polly ques- 
tioned. 

“Oh, yes, his voice is fine,” said Rose, 
“and it sounds fine, if you don’t look at 
him. Just the minute you see his face, 
you forget all about his voice, because he 
looks so funny. You keep wondering if 
his eyebrows could go any higher.” 

“You said he was kind, though,” said 
Polly. 

“He was kind, always until a little 
while ago. Now, he’s always talking with 


176 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

Miss Glendon. And he talks to her so 
softly that I don’t hear what he says, but 
now he watches me almost as much as she 
does. 

“Oh, let’s not talk about them,” she con- 
cluded, “because I don’t want to think of 
them while I’m here.” 

“To-night will be the party, and to-mor- 
row, — oh, to-morrow we can talk about 
it,” said Polly, “and we’ll have the loveli- 
est time possible out of this little visit.” 

Evening had come. The great lamps 
on the gateposts at the entrance to the 
broad driveway, vied with a hundred 
bright-hued electric lights that swung 
from the trees, like giant holly berries. 
Each seemed trying to give greater radi- 
ance than the other, and from porch and 
piazza blazed even larger lights that cast 
rainbow hues upon the snow that lay 


THE COSTUME PARTY 177 

like a white cloak over lawn and terrace. 

Indoors the lights seemed even brighter, 
and everywhere garlands of evergreen and 
holly hung in graceful festoons, and flow- 
ers bloomed everywhere. In the hall that 
had been decorated to look like an oriental 
apartment, Princess Polly and Rose Ath- 
erton stood waiting to greet their friends. 
The little hostess was indeed a lovely prin- 
cess to-night. 

Polly’s frock was of soft white satin, 
and on her sunny hair rested a jeweled 
crown that sparkled as if countless dew- 
drops formed its gems. Around her waist 
was a slender girdle, as brilliant as her 
crown, and in the satin bows of her slip- 
pers twinkled buckles that had been stud- 
ded with gems like those in the girdle and 
crown. 

Beside her stood Rose, and her gown of 


178 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


pale blue, with roses thickly strewn upon 
it, her wreath from beneath which her 
brown curls peeped, made her a quaint lit- 
tle maid. 

“There’s someone!” cried Polly. 
“They’re coming now! Hear the sleigh- 
bells?” 

“Oh, yes, and I guess it’s Rob and 
Lena,” said Rose. “And hark! There 
are other bells jingling!” 

The first guests to arrive were Rob Lind- 
sey, and his sister, Lena. 

Rob, as a small copy of John Alden, and 
Lena as Priscilla made a very winsome 
little couple, and following them closely 
came pages, fairies, elves, Indians, sailors, 
Dutch peasants, and a host of merry 
laughing girls and boys in every known 
costume. 

“I wonder where Leslie and Harry are?” 



“They’re coming now !” cried Polly. “Hear the sleigh-bells !” 








































































































* 


































































THE COSTUME PARTY 179 

Hose said, to which Polly whispered: 

“Here they come, now!” 

Harry Grafton in a black velvet suit, 
black silk hose, buckled shoes, and a great 
white ruff, made a fine little German 
baron of long ago, while his sister, Leslie, 
in a soft yellow satin frock, and an equally 
stiff, white ruff, looked as if intended for a 
dainty baroness. 

They were greeting Polly and Rose, 
when a tiny figure darted forward, flitting 
between Harry and Leslie until she 
reached Polly. 

“Oh, Polly, Polly!” she cried. “See 
me! I’m a white tulip! A white tulip! 
Would you know it? Tell me — would 
you ?” 

“Oh, Dolly Burton, you little cunning 
blossom!” cried Polly. “Of course I’d 
know it. Your skirt looks just like a 


180 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


tulip, and you couldn’t look nicer or 
dearer.” 

“Then may I stand beside you for a few 
minutes, just a very few minutes, so I can 
shake folks’ hands, and say I’m glad to see 
’em?” she asked, her little hands tightly 
clasped, and her blue eyes very eager. 

“Oh, Dolly, you mustn’t!” cried 
Blanche, who had rushed forward, intend- 
ing to catch wee Dolly by the hand. She 
had not dreamed what her little sister had 
intended to do, but as Dolly was always 
doing unexpected things, Blanche thought 
it safe to follow her. 

“Let her stay here between Rose and 
me,” said Polly. 

“Now you’ll let me!” cried Dolly. 
“Everyone has to do as Princess Polly 
says!” 

She nodded her curly head, and held up 


TEE COSTUME PARTY 


181 


her wee forefinger, as she spoke, and she 
looked very wise. 

Some of the boys and girls who had al- 
ready been received, passed again, to 
please wee Dolly, and take her tiny hand, 
as if she were, indeed, one of the receiving 
party. 

“Oh, my! I didn’t know how glad I 
was to see everyone!” she cried. “I’m 
glad to see you all!” 

“I haven’t seen Inez,” Polly whispered, 
a moment later, but little Dolly heard her. 

“There she is now !” she said. “And she 
looks like ‘Bo-peep’ in my picture book, 
and there’s Gwen, an’ she’s ’nother Bo- 
peep ! What makes ’em bofe look cross?” 

Truly it was surprising to see two dainty 
“Bo-peeps,” each pouting unpleasantly. 

Neither showed any desire to be re- 
ceived. 


182 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


Oddly enough, these two small girls 
who had been so very intimate, now stood 
apart, neither apparently willing to speak 
to the other. 

Blanche Burton, as a Turkish girl, 
looked very like a little oriental. 

Feeling that her wee sister was safe from 
mischief while she clung closely to Polly, 
she crossed the room to where the sulky 
“Bo-peeps” were standing. 

“You don’t look gay like the others, but 
your costumes are lovely. 

“How happened you to dress alike?” 
she asked. 

“We didn’t happen to!” declared Gwen. 
“She found out what my costume was, and 
went and had one made like it!” 

“I didn’t!” said Inez, “and I’ve said so 
to her ’til I’m tired, but she won’t believe 
me. I had mine made before I heard any- 


THE COSTUME PARTY 


183 


thing about her frock, and I guess I 
couldn’t change it then!” 

“Why, how sil — ” 

Blanche did indeed think them silly but 
she thought best not to finish the sentence. 
Instead, she said: 

“Come, girls ! You’re not having a nice 
time at all. You look just like ‘Tweedle- 
dum and Tweedle-dee.’ If you don’t stop 
acting like that somebody’ ll laugh at you.” 

She was larger than either Gwen or 
Inez, and they listened to what she said. 

Was she right, they wondered*? 

“Her costume just spoils mine!” cried 
Gwen, to which Inez added : 

“ ’Tisn’t mine spoils hers; it’s hers 
spoils mine !” 

“Then don’t keep so close together,” 
said Blanche, “and you needn’t go to- 
gether, to greet Polly and Rose.” 


184 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


As if the new idea pleased them, Inez 
turned toward the other end of the room, 
where she soon was talking with some girls 
whom she knew, while Gwen, finding her- 
self alone, turned toward Polly, and soon 
received a cheery greeting. 

Inez, when she knew that Gwen had 
been presented, hastened forward with her 
new friends, and soon she was wishing 
Polly “many happy returns.” 

Now from the hall soft music was 
sounding, and it invited them to dance. 
Rob Lindsey claimed Polly, Harry Graf- 
ton took Rose Atherton, and soon the room 
seemed alive with light and color. 

After several numbers had been danced 
to soft music, two newcomers, late in ar- 
riving, were looking for Polly. 

They finally found her sitting with 
several of her friends, under an evergreen 


THE COSTUME PARTY 


185 


bower, in the center of the drawing-room. 

“Oh, Lester! Lester Jenks!” she cried, 
when she saw the boy, and out went two 
white hands to greet him. 

“This is my cousin, Evangeline Jenks,” 
Lester said, and it was easy to see that he 
felt no joy in presenting her. 

Polly assured Evangeline that she was 
very glad that she had come, but- the 
strange child seemed neither pleased, nor 
displeased. 

She stared stupidly at Princess Polly for 
a moment, and then, turning, said : 

“Oh, there’s Rose Atherton!” 

She turned toward Rose, and Lester 
stood talking with Polly. 

Lester was dressed as a brave little hunt- 
er of the olden time, a green velvet suit, 
russet shoes, and cap, and a long bow, 
making a very striking costume. 


186 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


He was a handsome boy, and, beside 
him, his cousin looked insignificant. 

She was dressed as a little Greek muse, 
and carried a quill and a roll of parchment 
in her hand. 

She could not have been contented with 
any other costume. She felt that the 
quill and parchment were almost a badge, 
and she hoped, and believed that all who 
saw her would know that she was a poet. 

Judge of her disgust when little Dolly 
Burton ran up to her, and stared at her a 
moment with round eyes. 

Then her sweet voice piped in a clear 
treble, so that everyone heard her, and was 
it strange that they laughed? 

“Why do you carry that hen's feather, 
’Vangeline?” she asked. 

The small gray eyes looked sharply at 
her through the glasses. 


THE COSTUME PARTY 


187 


“It’s a quill, a pen to write poetry with,” 
Evangeline explained more patiently than 
one would have expected. 

“Oh,” cried Dolly, “what kind of 
poetry do you make? The kind that’s in 
my ‘Mother Goose Book’?” 

“It’s ’nough sillier than that!” muttered 
the disgusted Lester. 

Evangeline said nothing, but walked 
away, amidst roars of laughter. 

Lester and his cousin had both been in- 
vited, and Lester had stoutly said that he 
would rather stay at home than take Evan- 
geline. Much to his surprise, his mother 
had promptly told him that he must de- 
cide which he would do. Go with Evan- 
geline, or stay at home. 

“Oh, if it’s that way,” Lester had re- 
plied, “I’ll go, and take her, but I do hate 
to. She’s such a silly.” 


188 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“Lester!” His mother’s voice was re- 
proachful. 

“Well, I know that didn’t sound nice,” 
said the boy, “but she’ll look like a ninny, 
stopping every little while in some corner 
to write some of her everlasting old 
poetry!” 

“I’ll see what I can do about that,” his 
mother had said, and so well did she suc- 
ceed that Evangeline agreed to leave her 
notebook and pencil at home. 

At first she had refused, but when she 
was told that she might represent the 
spirit of poetry, and carry a quill, she 
agreed. The quill had satisfied her van- 
ity. 

Mrs. Sherwood stood watching the 
happy children, when Rob Lindsey ap- 
proached her, and seemed to be asking a 
favor. 


THE COSTUME PARTY 


189 


The soft music ceased, and Rob’s voice 
was plainly heard. 

“ May we, Mrs. Sherwood?” he asked. 

“If you wish,” she answered, with a 
smile. 

Then, Rob turned, with bright eyes, and 
a gay laugh toward his playmates. 

“Let us give ‘Three cheers’ for Princess 
Polly! Long may she reign!” 

With a will were they given, and Polly 
Sherwood made a graceful courtesy in ac- 
knowledgment. 

“How good you are to me,” she cried, 
when the cheering ceased. 

“You’re the best girl in the world!” 
cried Rob, “and we want you to know we 
think so.” 

“I love you all !” cried Polly, and then as 
the violins commenced to play a dreamy 
waltz, Rob claimed her for his little part- 


190 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


ner, Harry Grafton drew Rose out into the 
center of the floor, and the others follow- 
ing, filled the room with moving color. 

“Now, let us all march, in couples, to- 
ward the dining-room,” Mrs. Sherwood 
said, when the waltz was finished. 

In the center of the long table was a 
miniature lake on which tiny lilies floated. 
It delighted the children, who thought it 
the loveliest thing that they had ever seen. 

How they talked, and laughed, as they 
enjoyed the ices, and cakes, the fruit, and 
bon-bons. Surely there was never a mer- 
rier party, and of them all none was gayer 
than dear, loving little Princess Polly. 
With Rob on one side, and Rose Atherton 
on the other, she seemed every inch a prin- 
cess, with attendants around her, talking 
and laughing like a lovely little sprite. 

Something caused her to turn, and she 


THE COSTUME PARTY 


191 


saw a face peeping in at the gay scene, a 
face that she knew, and while she looked, 
the thin figure shivered. 

“Oh, s’cuse me,” she whispered, and slip- 
ping from her place at the table, she flew 
to the door. 

“Quick, Marcus! Quick!” she cried. 
He opened he door. “Who was it who 
ran?” 

“Gyp! Gyp!” she cried softly, and hear- 
ing her voice he returned. 

“I thought yer big manservant was af- 
ter me,” he muttered. “What made yer 
call me?” 

Even now he longed to run away, but 
could not because the sight of the radiant 
little figure held him. 

“It’s my party, Gyp, and I want to give 
you something nice. Marcus!” 

She laid her soft hand on Marcus’ arm. 


192 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“Get him some cakes, and some hot choc- 
olate, will you? Oh, Marcus, will you?” 

“Sure, Miss Polly, anything for you,” 
was the quick reply, then to the boy he 
said : 

“Come round to the side door, lad, and, 
for Miss Polly’s sake, I’ll get the cook to 
give ye a treat.” 

“Nobody’ll keep me?” cried Gyp, in 
sudden fear. 

“Sure not” replied Marcus. “What’d 
we want ter keep ye fer?” 

Gyp saw the point, and felt safe. 

What, indeed, would they want of such 
a little scape-grace as he at Sherwood 
Hall? 

After he had sat by the great range in 
the kitchen, and devoured a huge amount 
of cakes* and numerous cups of hot coffee, 
he hastened away, warmed and cheered 


TEE COSTUME PARTY 


193 


and full of pleasant thoughts of Princess 
Polly. 

“She twinkled and sparkled,” he mut- 
tered on his way to the shanty, “an’ she 
made him gi’ me a treat.” 

After the spread, there were games, and 
more music, and dancing, and then, 
though they were loth to leave, the time 
had come to say “Good-night.” 

“Oh, but it’s been the dearest party we 
ever went to,” said Lena, and, indeed, all 
the little guests told Polly how happy she 
had made them. 

Long after their costumes had been laid 
aside, and the lights turned off, Polly and 
Rose lay talking of the party, and so tired 
were they, that they dropped asleep in the 
midst of what they were saying. 


/ 


CHAPTER X 

WHAT THE OLD CLOCK SANG 

I T was hard for Polly to say, “Good- 
by,” and harder yet for Rose to say 
it, and leave cheery Sherwood Hall, and 
ride toward home. For home meant les- 
sons, under unpleasant conditions. 

Rose was a bright pupil and she enjoyed 
her studies, but her teachers were not well 
chosen, and they were neither kind nor 
considerate. 

All through the long two hours 5 ride she 
thought of Princess Polly, of sweet Mrs. 
Sherwood, of the bright hours of the party, 
and of all the merry playmates left be- 
hind. 


194 


WHAT THE OLD CLOCK SANG 195 

She thought of Uncle John, dear, 
kindly, loving Uncle John. How happy 
she had been with him during her visit to 
his home at the shore. 

His villa had been rightly named, “The 
Cliffs,” and gay indeed had been the sum- 
mer days spent there. 

He had been so affectionate, so gener- 
ous, and had given her the first love that 
she had ever known! 

He had promised to try to plan a way 
in which he could spend a part of the year 
with her, and he had made her promise not 
to speak of it to Aunt Rose until he gave 
her permission. 

But she had not seen him since the visit, 
and she wondered if, after all, he had 
found it quite impossible. 

Could it be that she would rarely see 
him, and that she would have to live al- 


196 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


ways with Aunt Rose, and have Miss 
Glendon with her every day, indoors, and 
out? 

“If only I could go to school with other 
children, so I could have little friends to 
play with, I’d be quite happy with Aunt 
Rose and Aunt Lois, though, — I do love 
Uncle John best, and he loves me,” she 
whispered. 

Miss Glendon was waiting for her at 
the door. 

She did not smile when she saw Rose, 
nor did she say a word of greeting, but, 
for the moment Rose forgot how cold Miss 
Glendon was. 

“Oh, I’ve had such a lovely time,” she 
cried, “and the party was the finest party, 
and Princess Polly was dear!” 

“You may go right up to the study, and 
take your coat and hat off up there,” said 


WHAT THE OLD CLOCK SANO 197 

Miss Glendon, “and then we’ll take up 
the lessons that have been interrupted.” 

Rose looked up as if she had been 
struck, and her lip quivered. 

“I’ll stop, and tell Aunt Rose about my 
visit,” she said. “ She'll be glad to hear.” 

“Your Aunt Rose is out, and she said 
you should begin lessons as soon as you 
returned.” 

Rose was not obstinate, but it did seem 
hard to come home, and find no one who 
could listen to the story of the party. 

“Please let me tell Aunt Lois, then?” 
she asked. “I won’t be but a minute.” 

“Miss Rose, will you go up to the study- 
room, as I say?” 

Rose went, without a word, but her eyes 
were downcast and her lashes wet. 

“Why had Aunt Rose gone out just at 
the time that I would get home? She 


198 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

would have been glad to see me if she’d 
been my mamma, and I, her little girl,” 
thought Rose. 

She wondered why Miss Glendon had 
been more unkind than usual. 

It seemed harder to have her so cold on 
the day of her home-coming than it would 
have at any other time. 

She sat down at her little desk, and tried 
to study, but her mind traveled back to 
Sherwood Hall, and Polly, and the prob- 
lems that Miss Glendon had given her 
were still unsolved. 

“Your mind isn’t on your work, Miss 
Rose.” 

The sharp voice made Rose start. 

“I don’t approve of parties for chil- 
dren,” she continued, “for all such pleas- 
ures fill their minds with thoughts that 
have nothing to do with education.” 


WHAT THE OLD CLOCK SANG 199 

“And give us something fine to think 
of,” said Rose quickly. 

Miss Glendon chose to say nothing in 
reply. 

Rose bent over her book, and with pen- 
cil and paper strove to solve the problems, 
but they seemed impossible. Try as she 
would, not one of the ten would “come 
out right.” 

Impatiently she tore the paper to bits, 
and taking another piece, tried again. 

It was useless. She was really unfit for 
study. 

Her unhappy home-coming had made 
her wretched. 

With Polly, all had been love and sun- 
shine, and Rose felt the difference keenly. 

Princess Polly had been wild with de- 
light at her coming. 

Aunt Rose had not even remained in 


200 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


long enough to see her when she had re- 
turned. 

To make matters worse, Miss Glendon 
had never been in a more unpleasant 
mood. 

She had even disapproved of Princess 
Polly’s beautiful party! 

While Sherwood Hall had been all joy, 
and gladness, the great Atherton house 
had seemed dark and forbidding. 

Sherwood Hall’s latticed windows had 
let in cheery sunshine. 

When she returned, the shades at the 
Atherton house, were, as usual, drawn to 
exclude any sunlight, and the great hall 
clock that ticked on the shadowy landing 
seemed singing a gloomy song. 

“Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! 

I can tell,— for I’m the clock. 

There’s no time for loving, — Tick ! 

Get your books, — and get them quick !” 


WHAT THE OLD CLOCK SANG 201 

“I wish it would stop!” cried Rose, and 
then, before she knew it, down plashed 
the tears upon her book. 

“It’s plain to see that the visit and the 
party have completely upset you,” said 
Miss Glendon. 

“You may lay aside your books, but I 
wish you to remain here, at your desk, and 
think how you’ve wasted this morning.” 

She left the room, and Rose, laying her 
arms upon the desk, hid her face in them, 
and cried as if her little heart would 
break. 

For a few moments, only her sobs could 
be heard. 

Then the monotonous ticking of the 
clock made itself heard, and ever so little 
she lifted her head and listened. 

“Oh, it’s singing the very same thing it 
sung when I first came in,” she whispered. 


202 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


“There’s no time for loving, — Tick !” 

“There isn’t! There isn’t in this 
house!” she whispered. 

“In other fine houses folks love each 
other, but here it’s different. Aunt Rose 
buys fine things for me to wear, but she 
doesn’t buy them because she loves me. 
She always says I’m an Atherton, and I 
must dress as an Atherton should.” 

Again she laid her tired head upon her 
arms. 

Again she listened to the ticking of the 
tall old clock on the stairway. 

“Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! 

I can tell, — for I’m the clock. 

There’s no need of love, or fun, 

If you’re born an Ather-ton.” 

“Oh, there is need of love. It’s so 
lonely without it. Uncle John is an 
Atherton, and he can love. He does , for 
he loves me, and he said he wished me to 


WHAT THE OLD CLOCK SANG 203 

be with him. Oh, when will he take me ? 
Can he have forgotten what he meant to 
do? Has he tried to plan it, and failed, 
or has Aunt Rose refused to listen to the 
plan, whatever it might be?” 

She sat very still for a time, her elbows 
on her desk, and her chin in her hands. 

Her head ached, and her throbbing tem- 
ples forced her to sit upright. 

They ached worse when she laid her 
head down upon her arms. 

Hark! The street door had opened, 
and closed. Was that Aunt Rose? 

Would she say she was glad to see her? 

Would she, because her head ached so 
badly, permit her to leave the school- 
room? 

Someone had come up the stairway, had 
passed the door, instead of coming in. 
Someone was talking, speaking so low 


204 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

that it was hard to hear what was being 
said. 

Was it Aunt Rose? 

A moment later she heard a sentence 
that plainly told who the speaker was. 

“She has done nothing with her lessons 
since she came home this morning,” said 
the voice, in tones that were barely 
audible. 

“That’s Miss Glendon,” thought Rose. 
“I wonder what Aunt Rose will answer?” 

“You have a hard time training her, 
and I find her obstinate when I give her 
a music lesson.” 

“Why that isn't Aunt Rose! That’s 
Mr. Ashton. Oh, he never told me I was 
naughty, and obstinate!” 

“She must be made to give up pleasures 
until she is older. Study is enough for 
her now,” murmured Miss Glendon. 


WHAT THE OLD CLOCK SANG 205 


“I agree with you,” Mr. Ashton replied. 
“Now the child has no voice for singing, 
but her aunt is determined to have what 
voice she has trained. Her attempts at 
singing are really very droll.” 

She heard the two laugh softly, and her 
cheeks burned. 

They were laughing at her! 

“I will not sing for him again!” Rose 
whispered angrily. “I did not think he 
would be mean enough to laugh at me.” 

They had moved farther down the hall, 
and now Rose could only hear their voices, 
as they talked, and sometimes softly 
laughed. 

“If Aunt Rose knew, they wouldn’t dare 
to laugh, but I wouldn’t dare tell her. 
She’d never believe it if I did. She knows 
I’m truthful, but she’d think I must be 
mistaken.” 


206 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

Again the street door opened. Some- 
one hurried along the upper hall, and 
down the stairway. 

Rose knew that Aunt Rose had re- 
turned, and Miss Glendon had hastened 
to tell her version of the unfinished lesson, 
and of her tears. 

She knew that she would not be fairly 
treated; that Miss Glendon would surely 
repeat that she had been obstinate, and 
that she had been made unfit for study by 
the visit and the party. 

“The lovely visit, and the party didn’t 
hurt me,” she whispered. “It was finding 
no one waiting to see me when I came 
home, and then Miss Glendon cross the 
very first thing!” 

It was as she thought. 

Miss Glendon had a long talk with 
Aunt Rose, but as it was near lunch time 


WHAT THE OLD CLOCK SANG 207 

Rose was not sent for to be reasoned with. 

Instead, the maid called her to lunch. 

“I don’t want, any lunch,” said Rose, 
“my head aches so it makes me feel sick, 
and I’d rath’er lie down in my own room.” 

Norah had always liked Rose. 

She had heard a part of what Miss Glen- 
don had said, and she sympathized wholly 
with the little girl. 

“Sure, I’d think ye’d ’nough rather be 
up here in yer own pretty room, than down 
there wid, — but I’ll not be saying any- 
thing ag’in’ yer teacher. Will I bring ye 
something ter eat, or drink? Or maybe, 
ye’d like Dorcas ter come up a while, an’ 
bathe yer pretty head.” 

“Oh, Norah, you’re always good,” said 
Rose, “but I’d rather not have anything 
to eat. I want to lie down, and perhaps 
I’ll feel better this afternoon.” 


208 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

Norah went downstairs, and told the 
cook that she feared that little Rose was 
sick. 

“It’s the work er that sour-faced Miss 
Glendon,” declared Norah, “and I don’t 
wonder the poor child has an aching head. 
It makes mine ache to look at her, an’ her 
not caring ter be kind ter the best child 
that ever lived.” 

In her excitement Norah had rendered 
her meaning obscure, but the cook ap- 
peared to understand it, and at once began 
to lament' over the lack of wisdom that 
had caused Aunt Rose to choose so un- 
lovely a person for a governess for little 
Rose. 

Aunt Rose, sure that the child must be 
told how very naughty she had been, went 
softly upstairs to the pretty chamber, but 
paused on the threshold. 


WHAT THE OLD CLOCK SANG 209 


Rose lay upon the bed, sound asleep, 
her arm pushed up under her brown curls, 
and half hidden by them. Her cheeks 
were flushed, and while Aunt Rose stood 
looking at her, a sigh escaped her red lips. 

She looked smaller than she really was 
lying there, and for a moment, a wave of 
pity swept over the woman, but she 
quickly repulsed it. 

“I must be firm with her,” she whispered, 
“and she must become used to obeying her 
teachers, whoever they may be.” 

She turned from the doorway and went 
downstairs. 

“I’ll let her sleep now,” she thought, 
“but when she wakes, I’ll talk with her.” 

Rose was really very tired, and the un- 
pleasant morning had increased her 
weariness. 

For a long time after Norah had left 


210 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


her, she had lain, with wide-open eyes, 
thinking, thinking, and hoping that Aunt 
Rose would not try to talk with her until 
her headache was gone. 

After a while she had become drowsy, 
and then she had fallen asleep. 

And how heavily she had slept! 

It was late when she woke, and a flash 
of light outside the chamber door told her 
that Norah had lighted the great electro- 
lier in the hall. 

“It must be near time for dinner,” 
thought Rose. 

As if in answer to her thoughts, Norah 
again appeared in the doorway. 

“Are ye feelin’ better?” she asked, “fer 
if ye are, I’m ter help ye slip inter a finer 
frock, an’ tie a fresh ribbon on yer curls. 
Ye know yer aunt is pertic’lar ’bout 
dressin’ fer dinner.” 


WHAT THE OLD CLOCK SANG 211 


“I know,” said Rose, “and my head 
doesn’t ache so badly now, so I’ll go 
down.” 

“Will ye put on the new light turkey 
blue frock?” asked Norah. 

“Oh, Norah, it’s turquoise blue,” said 
Rose. “Yes, I’ll wear that.” 

“Well I axed yer, because that ol’ Per- 
fesser Danton is cornin’ ter dinner, an’ yer 
aunt wants yer ter look fine.” 

Rose felt little interest in the old man 
who talked upon subjects that she could 
not understand, and which she never felt 
quite sure Aunt Rose did. 


CHAPTER XI 


OUT IN THE RAIN 

T RUE to her promise to Miss Glen- 
don, Aunt Rose had talked with 
her little niece, and while she surely did 
not scold, she did speak very firmly. 

“But truly I wasn’t naughty, or obsti- 
nate,” Rose had said, “and she wouldn’t 
have thought so if she had cared for me. 
She doesn’t like little girls, I know she 
doesn’t. Get me a teacher who does like 
little girls, and I’ll work, oh, so hard on 
my lessons!” 

Aunt Rose had looked coldly at her, for 
a moment, then she said; 

“I wholly approve of your governess. 
212 


OUT IN THE RAIN 


213 


She is firm and sincere. I chose her from 
several persons who applied for a posi- 
tion, and I could not think of letting 
another take her place, simply to gratify 
a child’s whim. You will feel differently 
toward her, after a time.” 

“And I don’t want to sing. I can't 
sing!” cried Rose. 

“There has never been an Atherton who 
could not sing acceptably,” said Aunt 
Rose, “and I wish you to be accomplished.” 

“But Mr. Ashton says I have no voice 
for singing, and he laughs at me, and I 
don’t like it!” 

Aunt Rose looked amazed. 

“Mr. Theophilus Ashton is a very cor- 
rect person, and a fine teacher. You were 
a foolish child to fancy that he laughed at 
you,” she said. “You really must become 
used to your teachers.” 


214 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


The week that followed was far from 
pleasant. 

Rose tried to keep her mind upon her 
lessons, but she found it hard to do so, and 
Miss Glendon, knowing that Aunt Rose 
approved of her, was even more stern than 
before. 

Friday morning had been more un- 
pleasant than usual, and Rose wondered 
if the hours set for study would ever end. 

At last lunch was announced, and she 
drew a long breath of relief. She felt that 
she was free until the next morning. 

It was a mild, sunny day for early 
spring, and she ran out onto the lawn, and 
along the terrace, enjoying the fresh 
breeze. 

She hoped that Lester Jenks would see 
her, and come over for a chat. 

“Lester is always amusing,” she 


OUT IN THE BAIN 


215 


thought, “but I do hope Evangeline won’t 
be with him.” 

There was no one in sight, but over be- 
yond the hedge and the summerhouse 
she could hear voices, and she listened. 

Yes, that was Lester. What was he 
saying*? 

A moment later she knew that he was 
talking to Evangeline. 

His voice rose higher, and the breeze 
carried his words so that she heard them, 
plainly. 

“You needn’t write any old poetry ’bout 
me!” he cried. 

Rose could not hear Evangeline’s reply, 
but again Lester spoke, even louder than 
before. 

“Yes, you did!” he cried, in evident 
anger. “You wrote all about me, and 
what I did to your old cat. 


216 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“S’posen’ I did put tar in the horse- 
chestnut shells, and jam them onto his old 
paws, and send him clattering down the 
back stairs! They were our back stairs, 
weren’t they? And the cat wasn’t hurt. 
Well, all I’ve got to say, is what I said 
first about your poetry. You needn t 
write any about me, for I won’t stand it. 
No fellow would!” 

Again Evangeline spoke, but Rose did 
not hear what she said, but she could 
guess, by Lester’s reply. 

“Yes, I’m going over to Rose Atherton’s 
but you can’t come with me unless you’ll 
leave your old poetry book at home. 
What? 

“Well, then if you must have it with 
you, just sit on this terrace, and write a 
poem about yourself. Tou might enjoy 
it, but I wouldn’t.” 


OUT IN THE BAIN 217 

Then whistling gayly, he ran across the 
lawn, and passed through an opening in 
the hedge. 

“Oh, hello!” he cried, “I didn’t know 
you were out here. I was coming over 
to ask you if your aunt would let you go 
for a ride with mamma and me. Mamma 
sent me to ask you. Do you think you 
could go with us? I do wish you could.” 

“Oh, wait here a minute,” said Rose, 
“though I guess you’d better come with 
me while I ask her. You can tell her your 
mamma asked it, and then, perhaps, she’ll 
say ‘yes.’ ” 

The two children hurried to the great 
doorway, and, as it chanced to be open, 
they ran in, and up the stairway to the 
living-room where Aunt Rose usually sat 
reading. 

She looked up, a bit surprised at their 


218 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


sudden entrance, and laying down the 
book that she had been reading, waited to 
learn why they had come. 

“Please, Miss Atherton, mamma sent 
me to ask if Rose might drive with us this 
afternoon?” said Lester. 

“Oh, may I?” Rose asked eagerly. 

Aunt Rose, her finger shut between the 
leaves of the book, looked for a moment 
at the two eager faces. 

“I think not, Lester,” she said quietly, 
“pleasures seem to overexcite Rose, and 
interfere with her lessons for the next day. 
You may take my thanks to your mother 
for the invitation, but Rose must really 
be kept very quiet.” 

“Oh, Aunt Rose!” cried Rose. “It’s 
the quiet here that’s making me feel so 
badly. I’m sure I need something 
bright.” 


OUT IN THE BAIN 


219 


“Why, my dear, I’m surprised to hear 
you rebel. Fm sure that shows that you 
are greatly in need of quiet. You are too 
excited. No Atherton ever — ” 

But Rose had rushed from the room, out 
into the hall, and up to her own little 
chamber, her eyes filled with tears. 

She could not stop to speak to Lester. 
She knew if she did, she would surely cry, 
and Aunt Rose could not bear tears. 

She felt that the ride would have been 
delightful. 

She liked Mrs. Jenks, and Lester was 
always bright and full of fun. 

Oh, it was really a disappointment, and 
hardest of all, she knew that Aunt Rose, 
who had deprived her of the pleasure, was 
calmly continuing the reading of her book. 

Aunt Rose Atherton did not realize that 
she was unkind, nor was she able to see 


220 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


that she was making Rose very unhappy. 

She was a good woman, and she be- 
lieved that she was doing the best thing 
that could be done for Rose. 

There are many excellent people who do 
not understand children, and Aunt Rose 
was surely one of these. 

The afternoon dragged slowly, and din- 
ner was a dull affair, only to-night it 
seemed duller than usual. 

Aunt Lois pleaded a headache, and did 
not come down to the table. 

Aunt Rose, whose mind was fully oc- 
cupied with plans that had been sub- 
mitted to her for the building of a con- 
servatory, could think of little else, and 
actually forgot to talk, so Rose, who felt 
little like talking, ate her dinner in 
silence. 

The butler served them, and cast pity- 


OUT IN THE RAIN 


221 


ing glances toward the pretty child who 
sat, in solemn state, opposite Aunt Rose, 
and tried to eat the food that he served 
her, for which she felt no appetite. 

Soon after dinner she pleaded that she 
was tired, and Aunt Rose felt sure that 
she needed rest, and let her go to her room. 

Rose felt that she was not sleepy, but in 
the quiet of her own room she soon fell 
asleep. 

She was awakened later, by voices in 
the hall. 

Who was it? 

Aunt Rose was speaking, and had evi- 
dently been talking for some time, for 
Rose heard her say: 

“Now that is the story, and her teachers 
agree with me. I am sure that I am pur- 
suing the right course with her.” 

“And I am equally sure that you are 


222 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

not! The very fact that a teacher will 
come to you telling tales about the child 
is enough to tell me that she is not the kind 
of woman to be her instructor. 

“As to depriving her of all pleasures! 
Why, that, in itself is enough to drive her 
nearly wild! 

“This house is lonely, and she would 
better be at school with other children of 
her own age. She needs playmates. 5 ’ 

“I am convinced that you would let her 
run wild. A man does not understand 
children , 55 Aunt Rose replied. 

“I am convinced that you are making 
her anything but happy, and I shall take 
the matter into my own hands. 

“Good night . 55 

The door closed, and Rose, lest her aunt 
might come up the stairway, crept back 
into bed. 


OUT IN TEE RAIN 


22 ; 


She had listened only because she knew 
that the voice was dear Uncle John’s, and 
she had actually wondered if he had come 
to take her away from the Atherton house. 

She was almost happy now, for, al- 
though he had not taken her with him to- 
night, she believed, by the manner in 
which he had spoken, that he would soon, 
in some way, manage to help her to be 
with him. 

She had longed to call to him, but Aunt 
Rose would have thought that most 
improper. 

She would have, also, reproved her for 
listening. 

“Who could help listening to Uncle 
John’s pleasant voice?” she whispered. 

She was soon asleep, and dreaming of 
sailing on sunlit seas in the beautiful 
yacht, T he Dolphin , and Uncle John, 


224 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


beside her, was calling her his dear little 
girl. 

At breakfast Aunt Rose wondered at 
her smiling face, and decided that her long 
night’s sleep had worked wonders. 

Rose dared not say that she knew that 
Uncle John had called, because Aunt Rose 
had, of course, supposed that she was 
sound asleep. 

For days Rose listened whenever any- 
one called, and always a feeling of disap- 
pointment came over her, when she heard 
the voice of the guest, and knew that it 
was not Uncle John’s. 

One week, two weeks, three weeks 
dragged along, and still no word from 
Uncle John! 

She woke one morning feeling that she 
could not wait much longer to see him. 


OUT IN THE RAIN 225 

She knew, by what she had heard him 
say to Aunt Rose, that he knew and under- 
stood how unhappy she must be. What 
kept him away? 

It was Saturday, and she wondered if 
it was to be a pleasant day. 

She dressed, and then drew the shade, 
and looked out. The sky was Overcast, 
and a strong breeze was blowing the 
clouds swiftly toward the west. 

“Oh, dear!” she sighed. “It isn’t going 
to be sunny, but then, I wasn’t going any- 
where. Aunt Rose won’t let me. She 
says I feel better when I have no pleasures 
but I know better. I’m so lonesome, and 
it is so dull and gloomy here, I’m wild to 
be somewhere else. 

“When I lived with Aunt Judith at the 
little cottage, I had to wear shabby 
clothes, and Aunt Judith did not love me, 


226 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


but I had Polly, dear Princess Polly, and 
oh, what good times we had ! 

“Now I live in a fine house, and have 
beautiful clothes. Aunt Rose is always 
saying that I must be dressed as finely as 
any Rose Atherton that has ever been in 
the family, but I’ve no good times now, 
’cause Pm always lonesome.” 

She leaned against the window frame, 
and looked up at the cloudy sky. 

“In my dream, I was with Uncle John,” 
she whispered, “but now I’m awake, I’m 
just here, and he, — oh, if he doesn’t come 
soon, what shall I do?” 

At breakfast Aunt Rose noticed her sad 
face, and questioned her. 

“Oh, I’m not sick,” said Rose, “but it’s 
such a gloomy day, and, oh, Aunt Rose, 
you don’t like to hear me say it, but I do , 
oh, I do need someone to play with.” 


OUT IN THE RAIN 227 

Tears sprang to her eyes as she spoke, 
and she clasped and unclasped her little 
hands nervously. 

“Well, well, it is certainly a dull day,” 
Aunt Rose replied, “and I’ll see if I can 
plan to have it occupied in some way.” 

A ray of hope crept into the child’s 
heart, and she was pleased that Aunt Rose 
was interested to plan for her. 

She was still in the dining-room, after 
breakfast, looking at a beautiful new fern 
that had just been placed near the win- 
dow, when Aunt Rose returned. 

“I’ve spoken to Miss Glendon about 
your loneliness this dull morning, and she 
has agreed to instruct you every Saturday 
morning. Before this there have been no 
lessons, save your music lesson on Satur- 
day, and that left you not knowing what 
to do with your time. Run right along 


228 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

with her now. She’s waiting in the hall. 

“You’ll not notice the cloudy sky when 
you are busy with your arithmetic.” 

It was the last straw ! 

To study, and be with Miss Glendon 
on Saturdays! Saturdays, when other 
children were at play! 

She went up to the schoolroom fol- 
lowed by the governess, and without a 
word, sat down at her little desk. 

Her red lips were tightly set. 

She had not spoken, because there was 
nothing that she wished to say, but there 
was something that she could do, and, — 
she was going to do it! 

She would finish the morning’s lessons, 
and then — 

She bent closer over her book, and with 
pencil and paper, worked with a will to 
do the problems. 


OUT IN THE RAIN 


229 


“I can do them this one morning,” she 
whispered. 

She worked thoughtfully, and soon 
passed her paper to Miss Glendon, sure 
that the problems were all correctly 
solved. 

Miss Glendon was surprised. She won- 
dered what had so awakened the child’s 
interest in lessons that had always bored 
her. 

She gave the paper back to Rose. 

“Your work is correct,” she said, “and 
I could give you other problems to work 
out, but I have an appointment that I 
ought to keep, so if you can amuse your- 
self until lunch time, I’ll excuse you, and 
go over to the station. I have to take the 
train to the next town, and I must hurry. 
Your Aunt Rose and your Aunt Lois are 
talking over the plans for the new con- 


230 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


servatory, and the draftsman is with them, 
so you’d best not disturb them.” 

“I won t” said Rose, and she waited 
until she heard the street door close after 
the governess. 

Then, after listening for a moment, she 
ran to her room, hastily drew her raincoat 
on over her pretty frock, found her little 
pocketbook, and, on tiptoe going down 
the stairs, opened the great door, and was 
out, before even a servant had seen her. 

The butler had been busy giving the 
cook some of his own ideas about house- 
keeping that he thought valuable, and he 
had not heard the door open, or close. 

Down the driveway she flew, fear giving 
wings to her feet. 

How her little heart beat! 

Had they seen her? Would someone 
call her back? 



BXli 




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AmyJBraoks., 


The wind blew her cloak about her, 










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OUT IN THE RAIN 


231 


She ran until she was forced to stop to 
rest. 

She glanced hastily over her shoulder. 

No one was following her. 

She looked up at the lowering sky. A 
raindrop fell upon her cheek, and she 
began again to run. 

The big raindrop was followed by an- 
other, and yet another, and then, without 
any warning, down came the shower that 
the heavy clouds had foretold. 

A raw wind had risen, and swirling 
around a corner, blew her cloak about her, 
and hustled her along, as if she had been 
but a dry leaf. 

A sudden feeling of loneliness came 
over her, and something made her throat 
ache. Was it the loneliness or fear that 
made her run yet faster? 

“Never mind,” she whispered, as if to 


232 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

comfort her little self; “it can’t be very 
far to Uncle John’s.” 

Down one street, and up another she 
ran, until at last she stood on the plat- 
form at the station. 

She peeped in at the door of the wait- 
ing-room. There was no one there. 

Miss Glendon must have been on her 
train, and perhaps was already at the town 
where she had an appointment. 

“I don’t have to ask which train will 
be the right one to take, because Uncle 
John said once that all the trains stopped 
at Cliffmore,” she whispered softly to her- 
self. 

It did not occur to Rose that she should 
buy a ticket. She was thinking only that 
in, oh, such a little while, she would be 
clasped in Uncle John’s strong arms, and 
that never again would she have to live 


OUT IN THE RAIN 233 

in the great lonely Atherton house, or be 
forced to be with Miss Glendon. 

There were no passengers waiting in the 
station, or on the platform, and Rose 
wished that the train would come. She 
hoped that while she waited, no persons 
who knew her would see her, and be able 
to tell Aunt Rose where they had seen her. 

A faint whistle made her turn, and look 
up the track. 

'There it is! There it is!” she cried 
with delight in her voice. "And soon, 
soon, I’ll be safely on my way to Uncle 
John.” 


CHAPTER XII 


A LITTLE TRAVELER 

H ER cheeks were burning, and her 
eyes very bright as she ran up the 
steps to the platform. 

There were few passengers in the car, 
and nearly all were men, but near the door 
sat a stout, motherly looking woman, and 
Rose sat down opposite her. 

She heard the brakeman at the rear door 
shouting. 

“This car express to — ” 

The name of the place was lost in noise 
of escaping steam, the shrieking whistle of 
another passing train, and the clatter 
of wheels once more in motion, but it must 
234 


A LITTLE TRAVELER 


235 


have been “Cliffmore” she thought, be- 
cause what little she had heard, had 
sounded like it. 

How it flew over the rails! 

She thought it must be a short car ride, 
because in Uncle John’s big automobile, 
it had taken but little time to get them 
to his lovely home, “The Cliffs.” 

The woman opposite watched her 
closely, and thought her a very small girl 
to be traveling alone. 

Rose did not know that she was being 
watched. 

She was looking out at the rain- 
drenched landscape, and wondering how 
soon she would see the shore. 

“It’s all country now,” she thought, 
“but soon we’ll be riding along where 
there’ll be no trees, and no gardens, but 
just long, flat beach, instead.” 


236 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

On sped the train, swaying as it flew 
around a curve of the road, and still little 
Rose looked from the window, straining 
her eyes to catch the first glimpse of the 
shore. 

“If it wasn’t so rainy, I could see bet- 
ter,” she thought, then a moment later she 
whispered softly; 

“But if we’d really reached the shore I 
truly could see it, even through the rain.” 

After what seemed to be a very long 
time since she had boarded the train, the 
conductor came through the car, and 
paused at her seat for her ticket. 

“Oh, I never thought to get a ticket,” 
she cried, “but I can pay my fare.” 

With nervous haste, she took her little 
pocketbook from her raincoat pocket, and 
offered the conductor a dollar. 

To her surprise, he did not take the bill, 


A LITTLE TRAVELER 


237 


but stooped, and looked sharply into her 
face. 

“Where are you going?” he asked. 

“To Cliffmore!” said Rose, “and here’s 
the money.” 

“Why, little girl, we’re miles from Cliff- 
more, and going farther away from it 
every minute!” 

She stared at him for a second in utter 
amazement. Then as the full meaning 
of his words dawned upon her, her eyes 
grew wide, and terror drove the color from 
her cheeks. 

She could not speak. Her lips moved, 
but not a sound escaped them. 

The big conductor laid his broad hand 
pityingly on her shoulder. 

“Don’t look so frightened, little girl,” 
he said, “for I guess we can take you back 
to Avondale. I saw you get on there.” 


238 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“Oh, but I don’t want to go back!” she 
cried. “I was going to Uncle John’s. 
He’s the only person who loves me.” 

The big man looked the sympathy that 
he felt. He had a little girl of his own, 
and it flitted through his mind that his 
little girl had her father, mother, and 
brothers who loved her dearly. 

This lovely child whose dark eyes 
looked up into his, had only an uncle who 
loved her, and she had tried to go to him, 
but had boarded the wrong train, and was 
fast being carried miles away from him. 

“See here, little lady,” he said, “you 
must be running away!” 

Her cheeks blushed very red, and her 
sweet eyes grew more troubled. 

“But I can't go back!” she cried, a sob 
in her voice, “for my aunt that I’ve lived 
with doesn’t love me, and the uncle I’m 


A LITTLE TRAVELER 


239 


going to does , so, some way , I must go to 
him!” 

“Well, well, don’t worry,” the con- 
ductor said, kindly, “perhaps we can fix 
it, although I must say, I don’t see just 
how. You’ll have to go a good many 
miles farther, because this train doesn’t 
stop until we reach Westfield.” 

“What shall I do?” cried Rose, and out 
came her tiny handkerchief, and down fell 
the tears. In despair she hid her face, and 
cried as if her little heart would break. 

Would the big conductor make her get 
off at the first stopping place, or would he 
decide that she must go back to Avondale ? 

She shivered. Aunt Rose had given her 
a fine home, but she had never been loving. 
What would she do to the child who had 
run away from her? 

And all this time the stout, motherly 


240 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


looking woman who sat opposite Rose, had 
watched her with kindly interest. 

“I tell you what it is,” she said to the 
conductor. “A child like that can’t be 
put off the train, and left, in the storm, in 
a town where she’s a stranger. I’ve two 
little girls of my own, and I’d not like to 
have them wandering about in a strange 
place. This child, it’s easy ter see, be- 
longs ter fine folks, but we’re respectable 
people, and we live on a farm. Now I’ll 
take her home with me, and me ’n my hus- 
band will take care of her, ’til we kin get 
word to her uncle ter come fer her.” 

“I guess that’s the best that we could 
do,” said the conductor. “ I know you 
and your husband by sight, and you’re all 
right. Cheer up, little girl, this good 
woman will look out for you, ’til you’re 
safe with your uncle.” 


A LITTLE TRAVELER 


241 


Rose looked up into the face of the 
woman who had befriended her. 

It was the face of a hard-working 
woman, but it seemed a kindly face, as 
well, and the child offered both her hands, 
in sudden relief. 

“Take me with you!” she cried. “I’m 
so afraid to be out in the storm alone, and 
I want to find Uncle John.” 

“Bless your heart! I couldn’t go home 
with an easy mind if I knew I left you on 
the train, not knowing which way to turn, 
or worse yet, standing at the station, out 
in the rain. This train stops at Westfield, 
and at North Westfield. That’s where I 
live, and when we git there, you come right 
along with me. My husband will be at 
the station with the wagon, and ’fore you 
know it, you’ll be safe under the farm- 
house roof.” 


242 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“Oh, Uncle John could thank you bet- 
ter than I can/’ cried Rose, smiling now, 
although her lashes were still wet with 
tears. 

The train stopped at Westfield, and 
nearly every passenger left the car. Then 
on it sped, through the driving rain, going, 
Rose thought, even faster than before. 

“Is it much farther ?” she asked, look- 
ing up at the woman who was peering out 
at the drenched landscape. 

“The train is slowing down now,” she 
replied, “and I’ll take this big bag, if 
you’ll take the little one.” 

Rose did not see the conductor when she 
stepped down upon the platform, and the 
woman, although very stout, walked so 
swiftly along toward the station, that 
Rose nearly lost her breath in trying to 
keep up. 


A LITTLE TRAVELER 


243 


The “wagon,” as she had termed it, 
stood waiting at the rear of the station. 

A heavily built man, with sandy hair 
peeping out from under an old hat-brim, 
shouted, “G-lang! Whaow! Will ye?” 
to the bony old horse that seemed to 
understand his command, for she took 
three antic steps forward in response to 
his sharp “G’lang!” and immediately 
came to a standstill, in answer to his 
“Whaow!” 

“Hello!” he cried, when he saw the two 
coming toward him. “Hev ye brung 
comp’ny with ye, Dorindy?” 

“Hold this ambrill’ while me an’ this 
little girl gits in,” she replied, sharply, 
“and when we git in out er this downpour, 
I’ll explain.” 

The man was evidently used to doing 
as he was told, for, without a word, he 


244 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


meekly held the umbrella, and soon, a 
silent trio, they were driving over the 
muddy country road, the “wagon” rat- 
tling outrageously all the way. 

Rose had thought that the woman had 
a good face, and she had gone with her 
trustingly, climbing to a seat beside her, 
and, feeling glad to be in someone’s care. 

It was when they turned into a narrow 
country road, bordered on each side by tall 
trees that met overhead, that a sudden 
fear came over her, and she felt her lips 
grow cold. 

“I’m going off with these people, and, 
oh, I don’t know who they are, or where 
they are taking me!” she thought. 

At the old Atherton house excitement 
reigned. 

For hours Aunt Rose and Aunt Lois had 


A LITTLE TRAVELER 245 

discussed plans for the new conservatory, 
and the draftsman had made alterations 
here, and offered suggestions there, until 
the two ladies believed that they had 
planned the finest conservatory that had 
ever been designed. 

After the draftsman had left, Aunt Rose 
went in search of her little niece. 

Not finding her anywhere in the house, 
she called the maid. 

Norah had not seen her, neither had the 
cook, and the butler, well knowing that 
he had been spending his time talking 
with the cook, insisted that Rose must be 
somewhere in the house. 

Long search failed to find her, and 
Norah offered to run over to the Jenks’ 
house, and learn if she were there. 

She returned at once saying that Rose 
had not been there, nor had she been seen 


2 46 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


by any member of the family. Aunt Rose 
was puzzled. 

She knew that Rose never went to any 
other house, and so could not imagine 
where she was. 

The child’s absence seemed strange, but 
she was not really anxious until the storm 
descended in all its fury, when she was 
not only anxious, but frightened. 

It was fast growing dark, and the little 
girl had not yet been found. 

“She has not yet returned, Lois/’ Aunt 
Rose said to her sister, “and when I say 
it, I don’t know what I mean, for how can 
anyone return, who has not yet been out.” 

“But if the house has been carefully 
searched,” Aunt Lois said gently, “it 
seems reasonable to think that she is 
somewhere else.” 

“Where could she be in this storm?” 


A LITTLE TRAVELER 247 

Aunt Rose asked, to which Aunt Lois 
responded : 

“Where, indeed?’ 

No one slept at the Atherton house that 
night, and on the next morning the butler, 
showing plainly how little he had rested, 
asked permission to search the neighbor- 
hood yet more carefully. 

Aunt Rose was only too glad to agree, 
but an hour later the man returned with 
the statement that he had not found Rose, 
and that no one whom he had met had seen 
her. 

“What shall I do next?’ he asked, and 
Aunt Rose, who prided herself on being 
equal to any emergency, was forced to 
admit that she could not think what 
should be done. 

“I must write to John, tell him all about 
it, and ask him to help in the search for 


248 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


Rose,” she said, and by the next mail the 
letter sped on its way to Uncle John. 

It cost Aunt Rose an effort to write it. 

She was very proud, and John Atherton 
had openly disapproved of her method 
of training the child. 

He had even declared that no little girl 
could be happy living as Rose lived. 

At first she believed that Rose had tired 
of being alone while the draftsman had 
been showing his plans, and had run out 
of doors for a change from the great 
shadowy rooms, rendered darker than 
usual because of heavy clouds that had 
made everything seem dreary. 

Now, she felt almost sure that Rose, 
little Rose had actually run away ! 

It was no time for pride to be con- 
sidered, and she had begged John Ather- 


ton to come at once. 


A LITTLE TRAVELER 


249 


“He will receive my letter this after- 
noon, and will be here this evening,” she 
said, and there was comfort in the thought 
that her brother, although so many years 
younger than herself, would be able, and 
eager to aid her. 

It happened, however, that John Ather- 
ton was away from home, and he had given 
his housekeeper permission to close the 
house, and during his absence, visit her 
sister who lived in an adjoining town. 

Thus the letter, dropped into the letter- 
box at his door, lay unopened, awaiting 
his return. 

Aunt Rose could not understand why 
he did not reply, and telephoned. 

Then she sent a telegram. 

She now had two causes for very great 
anxiety. 

Rose, for whose safety she feared, and 


250 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

her brother John, who always answered 
promptly. 

“Where could a child go, and no one 
in the house, or the neighborhood see her 
depart 1 ?” 

Over and over Aunt Rose asked this 
question, but no one could give a satis- 
factory reply. 

“And where could John be, where has 
he ever been, that he would not answer 
me?” 

Avondale had never looked more beau- 
tiful. Since the storm, everything ap- 
peared fresh and fair, the sky looked a 
brighter blue, and wherever the warm sun 
lay, the little grass blades were springing. 

“Soon there’ll be wild-flowers!” cried 
Princess Polly, “and then, in just no time, 
it’ll be summer!” 


A LITTLE TRAVELER 251 

“Oh, it is lovely to-day,” agreed Lena 
Lindsey, “but I guess it’ll be some time 
longer before it’s really summer, tho’ I’ll 
tell you one thing; the pussy-willows are 
out!” 

“Oh, Lena, where did you see them 1 ?” 
cried Polly, her eyes shining like stars. 

“Come, and I’ll show you, and we’ll 
bring some home. My mamma likes 
them, and yours will too,” said Lena. 

Away they ran, laughing gayly as the 
merry breeze tried to snatch their hats. 

They found plenty of the pretty “pus- 
sies,” and when each had gathered a fine 
handful, they turned toward the avenue, 
chattering gayly all the way. 

“I tell you truly, there isn’t a worse 
acting child in school than Gwen Har- 
court,” said Lena, “and yesterday, when 
she walked along home with me, she said 


252 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 


she meant to act worse, and worse, so that 
teacher might have to say she mustn’t 
come to school any more. Would you 
think she’d want to be sent away from the 
school?” 

“Why, I wouldn’t think anyone would,” 
said Polly, “and if she’s any naughtier 
than she has been, she’ll be just a little 
nuisance.” 

“Rob says she’s that now,” said Lena, 
with a laugh, “and he says if they ever 
make Gyp come to school, it’ll be hard to 
tell which is the worst, Gwen or Gyp!” 

“Isn’t it queer?” said Polly. “Gwen 
doesn’t like to go to school, and has to, 
and Rose would like to go to school, and 
they won’t let her.” 

“Well, Rose Atherton is sweet, and I 
know you wish, just as I do, that she could 
be here in our school with us, and — ” 


A LITTLE TRAVELER 253 

Lena did not finish the sentence, for just 
as they reached her house, Rob came run- 
ning after her shouting: 

“Lena! Lena! The maid has been 
looking everywhere for you. Aunt Rita 
is at the house, and she’s going soon, so 
you’ll have to hurry, or you’ll have only 
time enough to say ‘Good-by.’ ” 

It was always a delight to see lovely 
Aunt Rita, and promising to call for Polly 
the next morning, on her way to school, 
Lena hurried up the driveway, followed 
by Rob. 

Princess Polly ran along the avenue, in 
at her own driveway, and up toward the 
piazza. 

It was then that she saw Rose’s Aunt 
Judith, talking with Mrs. Sherwood, as 
if she had been calling, and was just about 
to leave. 


254 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“Where could she be? I surely have 
not heard from her for weeks. I know I 
cannot sleep to-night, nor, indeed, any 
night, until I know where little Rose is, 
and that she’s safe.” 

Polly heard her mother’s gentle voice 
replying, as if in an effort to comfort Aunt 
Judith, but she did not hear what she said. 

The sudden fear that filled her loving 
little heart made her cheeks pale, as she 
flew past Aunt Judith to where Mrs. Sher- 
wood still stood in the doorway. 

“Oh, mamma!” she cried. “What is it 
about Rose? Is she lost? Oh, is she, and 
how was she lost?” 

“Polly, my dear little girl,” Mrs. Sher- 
wood said, as she drew her closer, “we will 
not say she is lost, until there has been 
more time for a careful search. I did not 
intend to tell you of this until I could 


A LITTLE TRAVELER 255 

know all about it, because I knew that it 
would make you unhappy, but you came 
up the driveway just in time to hear what 
her Aunt Judith said.” 

Polly looked up at her with eyes that 
told how dearly she loved Rose, and al- 
though she was not crying, there were 
tears on her lashes. 

“We must try to think that soon we 
may hear that Rose is safe, and that her 
Uncle John Atherton has arranged to have 
her with him. 

“I have something pleasant for you to 
think of while we wait to hear from Rose. 

“Your father and Mr. Atherton have 
become fast friends, and we have engaged 
a lovely house for the summer, that is very 
near to Mr. Atherton’s villa, ‘The Cliffs.’ 

“Now, if Rose is there, think what a 
lovely summer it will be.” 


256 PRINCESS POLLY AT SCHOOL 

“Oh, mamma! I must try to think of 
that until we hear from her,” cried Polly, 
smiling brightly through her tears, “and 
the first moment we do hear from her, I’ll 
write to her, and tell her that we are to 
be little neighbors for the summer.” 

Those who have learned to love Prin- 
cess Polly, and would like to meet her 
again, and who are eager, as she was, to 
hear from Rose, may hear more about the 
two little friends, in 

“PRINCESS POLLY BY THE SEA.” 





















































































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